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SAMUEL     G.    FRENCH. 


TWO  WARS: 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY 


GEN.  SAMUEL  G.  FRENCH, 

An  ()JJ:r,(.'r  oi  the  Armies  of  the  United  States  and  the  Confederate  States, 
A  (1  rod iKifi'  from  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy,  West  Point.  1843. 


MEXICAN  WAR; 

WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES,  A  DIARY; 

RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD,  HIS  EXPERIENCE; 

INCIDENTS,  REMINISCENCES,  ETC. 


Nasiivii.m;,  'J'enn.: 

c  o  n  k  k  i)  k  k  a  r  k  v  e  t  e  |{  a  n  . 

1!)01. 


Kntercd,  .•iccoiiling  to  Act  of  Consiess,  in  the  yoar  190). 

By  Samuel  G.  Fkench, 

111  tlie  office  of  tlie  Librarian  of  Congrcrs,  at  Washington. 


THIS   VOLUME  IS  DEDICATED 

TO 

J/r   WIFB  AND   CHILDREN', 

ANI>  TO 

THE  CONFEDERATE  SOLDIERS 

WHO  BATTLED  WITH  THE  INVAD- 
ING FOE  TO  PKOTECT  OUR  HOMES 
AND  MAINTAIN.  THE  CAUSE  FOK* 
WHICH  OLIVER  CROMWELL  AND 
GEORGE     WASHINGTON     FOUGHT. 


-      PKEFx\CE. 

Some  years  ago,  when  living  on  an  orange  gi'ove  at  Winter  Park, 
it  occurred  to  me  that  my  idle  time  might  he  usefully  employed  in 
transcribing  from  memoranda  and  my  diary  many  incidents  of  my 
life  for  preservation  in  one  manuscript  for  my  children.  This  was 
continued  at  intervals  until  it  l)ecame  as  liere  i)resented.  It  was 
mainly  discontinued  after  my  cliildren  became  old  enough  to  ol)- 
serve  passing  events  for  themselves. 

But  inasmuch  as  a  few  books  have  been  ])ublished  containing 
errors  in  describing  some  military  operations  in  wliic-h  I  partici- 
jtated,  justice  to  the  troops  under  my  command  induces  me  to 
publish  my  account  of  them  as  recorded  when  tliey  occurred. 

This  volume,  then,  is  a  simple  narrative  of  passing  events,  with- 
out discussing  their  importance  and  l)earing  politically  in  shaping 
the  destiny  of  the  nation. 

Althougli  my  lot  was  cast  with  the  South,  and  whatever  may  be 
my  opinion  of  the  action  of  the  North  before,  during,  and  after 
the  war  as  expressed  in  these  pages,  I  am  as  loyal  to  the  Constitu- 
tion and  as  ready  to  uphold  and  maintain  the  rights  and  dignity 
of  the  United  States  as  any  man  within  its  boundary  ;  and  this 
was  evidenced  when  I  tendered  my  services,  as  a  soldier,  to  the 
President  l)efore  war  was  declared  against  Spain. 

I  do  not  know  that  I  am  indebted  to  any  person,  except  Jose])h 
M.  Brown,  of  Marietta,  Ga.,  a  son  of  Gov.  Joseph  E.  Brown, 
for  what  I  have  written,  and  to  him  I  make  acknowledgment  for 
•obligations.  .  Tmo  Aithok. 

Pensacola,  Kla..  May  1.  ismt. 


rXTHODUCTIOX. 

Of  all  forms  of  history,  a  good  autobiography  is  the  most  pleas- 
ing and  attractive.  If  the  writer  has  been  a  prominent  and  re- 
sponsible partifii)ant  in  great  events,  if  high  character  warrants 
liis  faithfulness  to  truth,  and  if  the  events  of  whicli  he  writes  are 
in  themselves  of  great  historic  value,  his  autobiography  will  pos- 
sess a  peculiar  charm  and  interest  for  every  intelligent  reader. 

The  generation  that  recalls  from  memory  the  events  of  our  his- 
tory connected  with  the  admission  of  the  great  State  of  Texas  into 
the  American  Union  and  the  war  with  Mexico  which  followed 
has  nearly  all  gone.  Here  and  there  a  strong  man  survives  wliose 
memory  is  clear  and  whose  conscience  is  true.  To  hear  him  talk 
of  these  events,  or  to  read  after  him  as  he  writes  of  the  universal 
excitement  in  the  country — the  angry  del)ates  in  Congress,  the  op- 
position to  the  admission  of  Texas,  and  to  the  war  with  Mexico, 
the  brilliant  campaign  of  Taylor,  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca 
de  la  Palma,  Monterey,  and  Buena  Vista — is  to  enjoy  history  in  its 
most  attractive  form.  The  historian  who  has  ])een  an  active  i)ar- 
ticipant  in  the  events  of  which  he  writes,  whose  passions  have  been 
cooled  by  age,  and  whose  judgment  has  been  disciplined  by  long 
years  of  experience  and  reflection  enjoys  an  immense  advantage. 
However  we  may  disagree  witli  him  in  his  criticisms  upon  the  con- 
duct of  men  or  upon  their  motives,  if  he  be  a  man  of  high  and 
true  character,  we  enjoy  the  greatest  satisfaction  in  accepting  liis 
positive  statements  as  to  facts  which  represent  his  own  actions  and 
experiences. 

Gen.  French  is  such  a  historian.  The  clear,  natural,  dispas- 
sionate style  of  his  book — its  freedom  from  bitterness,  the  tender- 
ness with  which  he  dwells  upon  the  history  of  his  classmates  at 
West  Point,  several  of  wiioiii  became  distinguished  generals  in  the 
Federal  arniy  (Grant,  Franklin,  Ingalls,  and  Quinby) — all  these 
characteristics  of  his  autobiograpliy  soon  win  the  confidence  of  the 
reader. 


viii  Introduction. 

For  the  general  reader  of  to-day,  and  especially  for  the  survivors 
of  the  Confederate  Army,  Gen.  French's  autobiography  will  ])0s- 
sess  peculiar  interest.  'The  writer  has  enjoyed  the  opportunity  of 
reading  the  advance  sheets  of  the  hook  only  through  the  account 
of  tlie  battle  of  AUatoona,  which  was  fought  October  5,  1864,  but 
as  Gen.  French  participated  in  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Hood  up  to 
its  predestined  disaster  at  Nashville,  the  autobiography  will  be 
read  with  more  than  usual  interest  by  students  of  the  ill-starred 
march  into  Tennessee  and  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville. 

The  venerable  author  of  "Two  Wars"  has  been  an  able  and  gal- 
lant soldier  of  his  co\nitry,  and  the  simple  and  graphic  manner  in 
which  he  writes  of  liis  distinguished  services,  and  relates  the  great 
events  in  wliich  he  bore  a  faithful  part,  entitle  his  book  to  the  con- 
fidence of  his  countrymen.  It  is  a  most  valuable  addition  to  our 
country's  history,  and  a  book  which  will  be  of  permanent  use  in 
the  study  of  our  great  Confederate  struggle. 

Elmsox  Capkks. 

CoUmibia,  S.  C,  July  1,  1901. 


COXTEXTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Page 
-Ancestry — Thomas  Ffrench — Mililaiy  Aspiration — Inipcn'tant  Docu- 
ment—Appointment to  West  Point — New  Jersey  Farm  Life — Great 
Ciiano;es — A  Real  Yankee — Pennsylvania  Hall — 'J'he.Fashions — Cap- 
ture of  a  Hessian  Soklier — Rufus  Choate  and  Bisliop  \Vain\vright — 
West  Point— Cadet  Life — Senator  Wall^Jolin  F.  Reynolds— i'lie 
Bo.ycott — Rufus  Ingalls — Requisites  of  a  Commander 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

•Graduation — Commissioned  Brevet  Second  Lieutenant,  U.  S.  A. — Or- 
dered to  Fort  Macon,  N.  C. — Goldsboro — Journey  to  Beaufort — 
Officers  at  the  Fort — Life  in  a  Casemate — Stormy  Atlantic — That 
Oyster  Supper — The  Wandering  (jOt — Adieu  to  Fort  Macon — Jour- 
ney' to  Washington — Lieuts.  George  H.  Thomas  and  John  Pope — 
Weldon,  N.  C— Go  to  West  Point— Prof.  Morse— First  Dispatch- 
Hope  Club,  Washington — Dinner  Given  by  Surgeon  General  Law- 
son — Appointed  Aid  to  Gen.  Scott — British  Gold — Col.  S.  Churchill 
— Integrity  of  Old  Army  Officers — Leave  Washington  for  Fort  Mc- 
Henry — Society  in  Baltimore — Chief  Justice  Taney 20 

CHAPTER  III. 

Death  of  Hon.  A.  P.  Upshur.  Secretary  of  State — Calhoun  Appointed 
— Treaty  of  Annexation  of  Texas — Declaration  of  the  State  of  Mas- 
sachusetts— Texas  Accejjts  the  Resolution  of  Annexation — Forma- 
tion of  Armj'  of  Occu])ation — Transferred  toMaj.  S.  Ringgold's  Bat- 
tery of  Horse  Artillery — Officers  Sail  for  Aransas  Pass — The  Wicked 
Captain  —  Becalmed  —  Cross  Bahama  Banks  —  Key  West  —  Out  of 
Drinking  Water — Fare  on  Board  Ship— Storm — Aransas  Pass— St. 
Joseph's  Island — Maj.  Ringgold's  Cook — Embark  for  Corpus  CUiris- 
ti — (iame  and  Fish — Horse  Racing — White  Horse  of  the  Prairies — 
Trip  to  San  Antonio — The  Town — Incidents  of  the  Trip 30 

CHAPTER  IV. 

President  of  Mexico  Resigns,  and  Paredes  Is  Elected — Mexican  Troops 
Concentrating  at  Matamoras — Taylor  Marches  to  the  Rio  Grande — 
Rattlesnakes  —  Mirage — Wild  Horses  —  Taylor  Concentrates  His 
Ti'oo])s  at  Arroyo,  Colo. — Bull  Fight — Mexicans  Flee — Taylor  Goes 
t(^  Point  Isabel — Join  Gen.  Worth — Field  Works — Arrival  of  Gen. 
Am])udia— Orders  Taylor  to  Leave — Taylor  Declines — Col.  Ci'oss 
Murdered — Lieut.  Porter  Killed — (Jen.  Arista  Arrives — Declares 
Hostilities  Commenced — Capts.  Tliornton  and  Hanlee  Captured. . .     41 


X  C'>.y  TESTS. 

(  IIAI^'IKK   W 

Page 

Arista  ami  His  Cavalry— -United  States  Excited— Two  Hundred  Tliou- 
sand  Men  Offer  Their  Services— Congress  Declares  '-War  Existed 
by  the  Acts  of  the  Mexican  Republic" — Taylor  Marches  to  Point 
Isabel— H()ml)ardment  of  Fort  Brown— Capts.  May  and  Walker- 
Taylor  Marches  for  Matamoras— Battle  of  Palo  Alto — Victory — 
Arista  Falls  Back  to  Resaca— Battle  of  Resaca — Capture  of  Ene- 
mies" Batteries— Capts.  May  and  Ridgely— Gen.  La  Vega  Captured 
—His  Sword  Presented  to  Taylor— Duncan  and  Ridgely  Pursue  the 
Enemy— I  Capture  La  Vega's  Aid— Col.  Mcintosh— Ride  over  the 
Field  of  Palo  Alto— Death  of  Lieuts.  Chadlmrne  and  Stevens — We 
Take  Possession  of  Matamoras — Gen.  Twiggs  Appointed  Governor 
—Twiggs  and  Jesus  Maria — Arrival  of  Gens.  W.  O.  Butler,  Robert 
Patterson,  Pillow,  and  Others— Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenants— 
Officers  of  the  Company — March  to  Camargo — Thence  to  ^Monterey 
— Seralvo — Arrival  at  Monterey 47 

CHAPTER  VL 

Monterey — Population — Gen.  Ampudia — (ien.  Worth — Capture  a  Fort 
—Battery  in  a  Hot  Place— Bragg"s  Order  Countermanded — Two 
Long-Haired  Texans — Capture  the  Bishop's  Palace— Our  Battery 
Ordered  to  the  East  End  of  the  City— Gens.  Taylor  and  Quitman— 
Street  Fighting — Gen.  Ampudia  Surrenders — Gen.  Worth,  Gov. 
Henderson,  and  Col.  Jefferson  Davis  Commissioners — Enter  the 
City — Dine  with  a  Mexican  Gentleman — Death  of  Ridgely — Hot 
Springs — Santa  Anna  President — Victoria  Surrenders— Gen.  Scott 
— Vera  Cruz— Return  to  Monterey — Death  of  Lieut.  Richey — Inves- 
tigation of  Richey's  Death— Monterej' — Saltillo — Agua  Xueva — 
Gen.  Wool — Santa  Anna  Advances — Majs.  Borland  and  Gaines  Cap- 
tured— Taylor  Falls  Back  to  Buena  Vista— Mexican  Army— Am 
Wounded— The  Hacienda— Cavalry  Fight  with  Mexican  Lancers 
—Flag  of  Truce— Victory— Carried  to  Saltillo 61 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Drs.  T.  C.  Madison,  U.  S.  A.,  and  G.  M.  Provost— Surgical  Operation 
—Courtesy  of  a  Mexican  Woman — Leave  Saltillo— Paltry  Escort- 
Safe  at  Monterey- The  Rio  Grande— Maj.  W.  W.  H.  Davis— New 
Orleans— Gen.  Pillow— Col.  Mcintosh- Bailey  Beyton  and  Sergeant 
S.  Prentiss— Drunk  by  Absorption — Steamer  for  Louisville— Racing 
on  the  River— Trip  to  Pittslmrg,  Pa.— By  Canal  Boat  to  Harrisburg 
—Home — Report  to  the  Adjutant  General — (io  to  Trenton,  N.  J. — 
Presentation  of  a  Sword— Go  to  Washington— John  W.  Forney's 
Bargain  with  Secretary  Buchanan— Capt.  A.  W.  Reynolds— Sent  to 
Troy.  N.  Y— Gen.  Wool— Leave  Buffalo— Toledo— To  Cincinnati  by 
Canal— Society  in  Cincinnati — Appointed  Captain  and  Assistant 
Quartermaster— Start  for  Washington— Cross  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains by  Stage— Six  Commissions  in  United  States  Army— Recep- 
tion l»y  Gen.  Jesu))— Capt.  Rufns  lugalls H5 


Cox  TEX  ■/'.<.  xi 


CIIAPTKll  VIII. 


Ordered  ti»  Now  Oi-leans— Baton  Rouge— Col.  W.  W.  S.  Bliss— M:ij. 
J.  H.  Eaton — Maj.  K.  S.  Garnett — Taylor  Nominated  for  President 
— Return  to  New  Orleans — Ordereil  to  Vicksburg — ■•(ien."  Mc- 
JMai'ken,  the  Prince  of  Landlords — Bishop  Polk — Sent  to  Mobile — 
Regular  Army  at  East  Pascagoula,  Miss. — Gen.  Twiggs  and  His  Fi- 
ancee— Sail  for  Galveston — Galveston — Houston — Austin — Troops 
Sent  to  Establish  Posts,  now  Cities — San  Antonio — Death  of  Gen. 
Worth — El  Paso — Return  to  San  Antonio— New  Orleans — Call  on 
Gen.  Twiggs — Twiggs  and  Tree — Sword  Pi'esented  to  Me — Dine  at 
the  President's — Death  of  President  Tayloi-- Fillmore  President — 
Capt.  Ringgold.  U.  S.  N. — Ordered  to  Louisville — Return  to  Wash- 
ington— Col.  Joseph  Taylor— Gen.  W.  O.  Butler — Maj.  Gainr^^ — Cin- 
cinnati— Salmon  P.  Chase 96 

CHAPTER  IX. 

January,  1851,  Ordered  to  El  Paso — Capt.  Sitgreaves — Sail  for  Ha- 
vana— Barnum  and  Jennie  Lind — Sail  for  New  Orleans — By  Steam- 
er to  Galveston— On  the  Gulf  for  Indianola — San  Antonio — Report 
of  Expedition — Unprecedented  March  without  Water — Lid'ans — 
With  Gen.  Jesup— Hartford  Convention — Battles  on  the  Canadian 
Frontier — Gov.  W.  P.  Duval  (Ralph  Ringwood)— United  States  Sen- 
ators— Clay's  Magnetism — His  Duel  with  John  Randolj)h — Lieut.  R. 
F.  Stockton.  United  States  Navy.  Duel  with  English  Officers  at  Gi- 
braltar— John  Howard  Payne — Commodore  Van  Rensselaer  Mor- 
gan— My  Marriage — Assigned  to  Fort  Smith,  Ark. — Trips  to  Wash- 
ita, Fort  Gibson,  andTowson — ChoctawsandCherokees — John  Ross 
— Journey  from  Fort  Smith  to  Natchez,  Miss. — A  Misanthrope- 
Gen.  John  A.  Quitman — ^^Death  of  Mrs.  Roberts — Tender  My  Resig- 
nation— Go  to  My  Plantation — Go  to  San  Antonio — Death  of  Mrs. 
French — Sail  for  Europe — John  Brown's  Raid lOT 

CHAPTER  X. 

Canada.  Boston,  Rye  Beacli — Antislavery  Party^  Nominates  i-,incoln 
for  President^ — His  Election  Evidence  of  Hostility  to  the  South — Mis- 
sissippi Secedes — Gov.  Pettus — Appointed  Colonel  and  Chief  of  Ord- 
nance in  the  Army  of  the  State  of  Mississippi — State  Had  No  Arms 
—Governor  Sends  an  Agent  to  Europe  to  Purchase  Arms — Labor- 
atory for  Making  Ammunition — Flannel  and  Paper  to  Make  Car- 
tridges—Cartridges and  Horse  Collars — Onlj-  Old  Flint  Muskets — 
Old  Shotguns — Governor  Objects  to  the  State  Troops  Going  out  of 
the  State — Visit  Home — Am  Offered  the  Appointment  of  Brigadier 
Genei'al,  Confederate  States  of  America 135 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Leave  for  Richmond — Ordered  to  Evansport,  Va..  to  Blockade  the  Po- 
tomac— Worthless  Aninuuiition — Forces  on  the  Marvlami  Shore — 


xii  CoXTEXTS. 

Page 
Constant  Firinu;  All  Winter — Orders  to  Fall  Back  to  Fredericksljurg 

—  '"Come  to  Kiehmonil  IinuuHllati'ly  " — Orders  from  Gen.  Lee — New 
Berne  Falls — Relieve  Branch  at  Kinston — Ordered  to  Wihninii- 
ton — Build  Defenses — Fort  Fisher  Constructed — Col.  William  l>amb 
in  C'ommand — Runninu;  the  Blockade — Wliitworth  Guns — July  17, 
1862.  Placed  in  Command  of  the  Department  of  North  Carolina  and 
Southern  Virginia — Defend  a  Line  from  the  Appomattox  to  Cape 
Fear — July  31,  Shell  Gen.  McClellan's  Armj' — Constructed  Defenses 
of  Petersburg — Battle  of  Fredericksburg — Pelham — President  Calls 
for  Me — Gen.  Lee's  Considerate  Conduct — Gen.  Foster  at  Tarboro, 
N.  C. — He  Interviews  an  Old  Darky — Railroad  Bridge  at  Golds- 
boro.  N.  C,  Burned — Weak  Defense  Made — Hoav  I  Got  Sup])lies 
from  Suffolk — Mrs.  Johnston  and  Gen.  Viele^Was  Fannie  Cooper 
a  Spy? — Martial  Law — Sidney  I^anier — Flag  of  Truce  Boats — Ex- 
change of  Prisoners 140 

CHAPTER  XH. 

Telegram  from  Secretary  of  War — Go  to  Richmond — Declined  Going 
to  Vicksburg— Gen.  Longstreet— He  Starts  for  Suffolk — Suffolk — 
Capture  of  a  Fort  and  Garrison — No  Report  Made  of  the  Capture — 
Statement  of  Lieut.  George  Reese — Longstreet  Ordered  to  Join  Lee 
— Dis])atehes — Battle  of  Chancellorsville— Withdraw  from  Suffolk 
— An  Impertinent  Note — Court  of  Inquiry  Asked  for  and  Refused — 
Possible  Result  Had  Longstreet  Obeyed  Orders— T*^??  Dispatches  to 
Longstreet— Orders  to  Report  to  Gen.  Johnston 159 

CIIAI'TER  XI IL 

Leave  Petersl)iirg  for  Jackson.  Miss. — Vi.sit  Home — My  Division  Com- 
posed of  the  Bi'igades  of  Gens.  Maxey,  Evans,  and  McNair — Ex- 
traordinarj'  Correspondence  between  Gen.  Johnston  and  President 
Davis — Movements  to  Attack  Grant  at  Vicksburg — Fall  of  Vicks- 
l)urg — Retreat  to  Jackson  -Siege  of  Jackson — Visit  Home — Negro 
Troops  Surround  the  Hou.se — Narrow  Escape — Vanilalism — Johns- 
ton Takes  Command  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee — Polk  in  Command 
of  Army  of  Mississippi — A  Court  of  Inquiry  That  Was  Not  Held — My 
Division  at  Meridian — President  Davis — Jackson  Burned — Sher- 
man's Advance  on  Meridian — Ordered  to  Mobile — Polk  Crossing 
Tombigbee  River — He  Is  Slow  to  Move — Go  to  Demopolis— Mr. 
Founier  —  Sent  to  Lauderdale  —  Tu.scaloosa  —  Monte vallo  —  Reach 
Rome— Fight  at  Rome— Join  Gen.  Johnston  at  Cassville 178 

(•IIAP'I'KIJ   XIW 

€assville— The  J^ine  of  Battle — Hood's  Line  Not  Enfiladcil— History  of 
That  Conference— Two  Lieutenant  Generals  Invite  Their  Command- 
er to  a  Council  of  War — Johnston  Obliged  to  Fall  Back — We  Cross 
the  Etowah  River — Dallas — New  Ho])e  Church — Constant  Fighting 
— Rain.  Rain — Death  of   Lieut.  Gen.  Polk— Battle  of  the  Latimer 


CoNTKNTs.  xiii 

Paoe 
House — My  Division  Oct-upies  Little  aud  Big  Kennesaw  Mountains 
—The  Battle— Incidents  of  the  Battle— Confederates  Save  Wounded 
Union  Soldiers  from  Burning — Kennesaw  During  Night  Bomhanl- 
nient— Col.  Martin's  Noble  Conduct — The  Irony  of  Fate— Maj.  Poten 
and  French  Soldier IW 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Our  Army  Falls  Back  from  Kennesaw— Confederate  ••Rebel  Yell" — 
Occupy  Works  on  the  Chattahoochee  River— A.  P.  Stewart  Ap- 
])ointed  Lieutenant  Genei'al— Assumes  Command  of  the  Army  of 
Mississii)]^- -Texas  Brigade  Fight  to  01)tain  Tools— We  Cross  the 
Chattahoochee— Arrival  of  Gen.  B.  Bragg— Gen.  Johnston  Relieved 
— President  Davis's  Remark  about  Relieving  Johnston  from  Com- 
mand—Johnston's Policy  versus  Hood's — Battle  of  Peachtree  Creek 
—We  Occupy  Atlanta— Battle  of  Atlanta— S.  D.  Lee  Assigned  to 
Command  of  Hood's  Corps— Gen.  Ector  Wounded— Capt.  Ward 
Killed— Battle  of  July  28,  1864—1  Apply  to  Be  Relieved  from  Serv- 
ing with  Hood — Gen.  M.  Jeff  Thompson — Condition  of  the  Camps 
of  United  States  Troops — Evidence  of  the  Terrible  Fii-e  of  Small 
Arms— Evacuation  of  Atlanta — Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy's  Station. .  313 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

From  Lovejoy's  to  Lost  Mountain — Big  Shanty — Acworth — Destroy- 
ing Railroad — In  the  Rear  of  Sherman — Situation  of  the  Two  Ar- 
mies— Orders  to  Destroy  the  Etowah  River  Bridge— To  Fill  Up  the 
Railroad  Cut  at  AUatoona— Hood  Not  Aware  that  Allatoona  Was 
Fortified  and  Garrisoned — March  to  Allatoona — Summons  to  Sur- 
render—No Answer— Gen.  Corse's  Report  Erroneous— The  Fortifi-  • 
cations — Strength  of  Forces — Equalization  of  Forces — Some  Feder- 
al Dispatches— The  Battle— Corse's  Account— Col.  Ludlow's  De- 
scription—Desperate Fighting — The  Main  Line  Captured — Enemy 
Driven  into  an  Interior  Fort — Dispatches  from  Gen.  Armstrong  Re- 
specting Movements  of  the  Enemy  at  Big  Shanty — Withdraw  to 
Avoid  Being  Surrounded  by  Converging  Forces— Corse's  Dispatch 
to  Sherman— Provisions — Con  federates  Three  Days  and  Nights  with- 
out Rest  or  Sleep— Pass  by  the  Enemy— Evangelist  P.  P.  Bliss 
Writes  the  (Gospel)  Hymn.  '•Hold  the  Fort"— Hood  and  His  Erro- 
neous Publications  in  His  Book — His  Admiration  for  Corse— My  Ad- 
miration for  the  Confederates— The  Soldier's  Grave — The  Lone 
Grave— Lieut.  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart's  Note  in  Regard  to  This  Account 
of  the  Battle " 233 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Return  fi-om  Allatoona — Hood's  Deportment — Cro.ss  the  Coosa  Riv- 
er— Devastation  around  Rome — Rome  Burned — Garrison  of  Resaca 
Refuses  to  Surrender — Capture  of  the  Seventeenth  Iowa  Regiment 
at  Tilton— Dalton  Taken— Dug  Gap— Dinner  of  Roasting  Eans— Sup- 


xiv  Co.\  TEXTS. 

Page 

per — Ca])!!!!'*'!!  OtlifiTsan'  Jolly  (iood  Fellows — (iadsden — Encamp- 
ment at  Mrs.  Sansom's — Her  Daughter  a  Guide  for  Geu.  Forrest 
when  He  Captured  Gen.  Streight — Gross  the  Black  Warrior  River 
and  Sand  Mountains — Decatur — Some  Fighting  at  Decatur — Gen. 
Beauregard  with  Hood — Beautiful  Vallej'  of  the  Tennessee  made 
Desolate  by  War — Tuscumbia — Drearj'  March  to  Columbia.  Rain 
and  Snow — Stewart's  and  Cheatham's  Corps  Cross  Duck  River  en 
Route  to  Spring  Hill — Hood  Slept — Scholield  Passed  By — Pursue 
Schotield  to  Franklin — Battle  of  Franklin — Incidents — Remarkable 
Order  for  a  Second  Assault  at  Night — Los.ses  in  Mj'  Two  Brigades 
— Exchange  of  Prisoners  Sto])ped • 285 

CHAPTEK  Will. 

March  to  Mashville — Cold  Weather — Partial  Investment  of  the  City — 
Leave  of  Absence — Turn  the  Command  Over  to  Brig.  Gen.  C.  W. 
Seal's — Battle  of  Nashville — Hood  Not  Physically  Able  for  the  Du- 
ties of  a  Commander  in  Want  of  All  Supplies — Marshal  Saxe — Mulai 
Malek — Going  to  Nashville  a  Failure:  Could  Not  Be  Otherwise- 
Leave  for  Columljus.  Ga. — Marriage  to  Mary  Fo)itaine  Abercrombie 
— Go  to  Meriwether  Count}'  to  Avoid  Wilson's  Raid — Robbing  in  Co- 
lumbus— Adventures  of  Mj'  Orderlj' — Yankees  Raid  the  Houses- 
Gen.  A.  Had  No  Pies — Gens.  Lee  and  Johnston  Surrender — Terms 
Thereof— A\'ar  with  the  Musket  Ends 302 

CHAPTEK  XL\. 

Aspect  of  the  Country  at  Termination  of  the  War — The  Returned  Con- 
federate Soldier — Carpetbaggers — Lincoln's  Vow — His  Proclama- 
tion Concerning  Confiscation  of  Slaves — How  the  Slaves  Were  Le- 
gally Liberated — Lincoln  Murdered — Johnson  President — HisThirst 
for  Vengeance — •■Treason"  to  Be  Made  Odious — Grant  Declared 
That  the  Paroles  Must  Not  Be  Violated— Cost  of  a  Bill  of  Dry  Goods 
in  Confederate  Money  in  1864 — Leave  Columbus  for  Greenville. 
Miss. — Desolate  Home — The  Good  Israelite — Return  to  Columbus — 
I  Go  with  Mrs.  French  to  Mississippi — Traveling  Incognito  a  Fail- 
ure— Journey  to  New  York  in  1805 — Incidents  of  My  Mother  and 
Child  When  They  Went  North — Home  Conliscated^Edward  Coop- 
er's Kind  Act — No  One  Would  Touch  Mother's  Trunks — Copy  of 
a  Contract  in  1865.  Wherel^j'  I  Obtained  Funds — People  under  I^spi- 
onage  at  the  North — Return  to  the  Plantation — Northern  Plan  to 
Terminate  the  War 310 

CIIAP'I'KIJ    XX. 

Freedmen's  Bureau — Gen.  ().  O.  Howard,  Commissioner — Platform 
for  Reconstruction — Ironclad  Oatli — Natural  Rights  of  Man^ — Civil 
Rights — Negroes  Made  Citizens — Persecution — Agents  of  Freed- 
men's Bureau — Personal  Experience — Negro  Justices — Some  Trials 


Cox  TEXTS.  XV 

Pa  OF. 

— Judge  Sharkelford  Secret  Soc;ietifs — William  A.  Sharkey — Gov. 
Adelbert  Ames— Sheriff  Webber — Taxes — Board  of  Levee  Commis- 
sioners l)ismis.sed — Kelis^ious  Negroes — Bishop  Wilmer — Praj'ers 
for  the  PresiiUmt — Shotgun  Election — Hegira — Carpetbaggers — In- 
dissoluble Union — Indestructible  States— We  Were  a  Concjuered  Na- 
tion— Reconstruction  Only  a  Definition  for  Deeds  Done — Strength 
of  Respective  Armies 328 


APPENDIX. 

Some  Statistic.^  of  the  Wau 353 

Pehoentage  Killed  and  Woixded  in  Late  Waks 355 

Slave  Owners  in  the  Confederate  Akmy 355 

Pki.son  Death.s  and  Pkisoneks 357 

The  Aithokity  to  Tax 358 

Cost  of  the  War 359 

Naval  Power  of  the  United  States     359 

Names,  Rank,  and  Positions  of  Officers  (jn  My  Staff  359 

Govekn.ment  in  Louisiana,  1875-76 300 

Violation  of  Paroles 305 

Cassville 367 

Slavery  Proclamation  and  Confiscation  Act 383 

Indenture 385 

Our  Unknown  Dead 402 


ILLUSTRATIONS,  MAF^,  ETC. 

P.CE 

Samuel  (i.  Fkkncii Fi-ontispieee 

Plan  ok  Ha  i ti.i;  ok  Resaca.  Mex 53 

Plan  of  Battle  of  Monteuey.  INIex 08 

Map  of  tjie  Colntry  near  Btena  Vjsta 75 

1'lan  (  )F  Batilf.  of  BiKNA  Vlsta 79 

Joiix  C.  French Ill) 

Jefferson  Davis 141 

Kobert  K.  I^ee 171 

JosEFii  E.  Johnston 17!) 

Leonidas  Polk liJl 

Map  of  Cassvhj.e 197 

Map  of  New  Hope  Church,  Ga 200 

Map  of  Battle  of  Kennesaw  Mountain.  June  21.  1H04 :204 

Battle  of  Kenne-^aw  Mountain 207 

A.  P.  Stewart 213 

Map  of  Atlanta  ('AMPAKiN 224 

F.  M.  CoCKRELL 237 

Capture  of  Blockhouse,  Allatoona  Creek.  October  5.  is()4 231 

Ma.i.  D.  W.  Sanders 235 

Map  ( )F  FoKTiFiCATioNs,  Allatoona,  Ga 243 

Battle  of  Allatoona 250 

Signal  Tree.  Allatoona.  October  5,  18G4 254 

Battle  of  Allatoona— Capture  of  Redoubt  ■•  R "" 259 

Railroad  Cut,  Allatoona 209 

Joseph  M.  Brown - 279 

Tin;  ].,oNE  Grave. 383 

Map  of  Battle  of  Franklin 293 

Julius  I.,.  Brown 303 

The  Indenture 380 

The  Indenture  (reverse  side) 390 

Henry  Wai;d  Beecher  Sellinc;  Slaves 393 

J<;<i;pii   K.   Brown • 399 


ERRATA. 

Tho  ,.un..  of  .T..se,.l.  H.  Frend,,  a  brotho,-  of  tho 
writer   was  inaaverttutly  oinitted  on  page  .i. 

Z\Ige  323,  elevcth  line  Edward  Coo,er  sl.ou.d 
,,0  l.„,™  Cooler  ^^^^^^j  ^,^^,,„  ,,^,  ,v.  ^. 

Hood. 


ILLUSTRATIONS,  :\IAPS,  ETC. 

I'.fJE 

Samcel  G.  Fkkncii Fr()iilis])it'ce 

Plan  <  >f  Ha tti.i:  c )K  Ricsaca.  M ex 52 

Plan  of  Battle  of  Monterey,  IMex 63 

Map  of  the  Country  near  Buena  Vjsta 75 

Plan  of  Battle  of  Buena  Vlsta 7'.) 

J(  )iiN  C.  French 1 1<J 

Jefferson  Davis 141 

IlOBT 

Jose 
Leo> 
Mai- 
Map 
Mai- 
Bati 
A.  P 
Map 
F.  M 
Cap- 

Maj  

Mai"  of  Fortifications,  Allatoona,  (Ja 242 

Battle  of  Allatoona 350 

Signal  Tree,  Allatoona.  Octobek  5,  1864 254 

Battle  of  Allatoona— Captuke  of  Redouht  ••  K  ' 259 

Railroad  Cut,  Allatoona 261) 

Joseph  M.  Brown - 279 

The  Lone  (iRAVE. 282 

Map  of  Battle  of  Franklin 293 

Julius  L.  Brown 363 

The  Indenture 386 

The  Indenture  (reverse  side) 390 

Henry  Waihj  Beecher  Selling  Slaves 393 

JijsEPH  K.  I;rown / 399 


^r\V()  AYARS. 


ClIAPTEH  I. 

Aucestry — Thomas  Kfrciicli  Military  Aspinitioii — Inijjortant  Document 
— Appointment  to  West  Poiiif — New  Jersey  Farm  Life — Great  C-lianges — 
A  Keal  Yankee — Pennsylvania  Hall — The  P'ashions — ('ai)tnre  of  a  Hes- 
sian Soldier — Knfns  Choate  and  Bi.shoj)  ^Vainwrifjht — West  I'oint— 
Cadet  l>,ife — Senator  Willi — Jolin  V.  Reynolds — Die  Boycott — Rufns 
Ingalls — Retpiisitc'S  of  a  Commander. 

INASMrCII  as  the  ofoN eminent  of  this  eoimtrv  cann()t  jri'sint 
any  title  to  nobility,  nor  can  it  be  conferred  by  any  foreign 
power,  the  people  of  the  United  States  have,  to  gratif}'^  a  natural 
]iride.  been  ol)liofe(l  to  obtain  distinction  in  various  ways.  Amonir 
them  may  l)e  mentioned  the  accunuilation  of  money,  political 
preferment,  the  pride  of  ancestry,  and  professional  attainments. 

The  pride  of  tuicestry  is  a  very  laudal)le  one,  and  no  doubt  it 
has  a  guidinof  influence  in  shaping  the  destiny  of  our  lives.  We 
discover  it  in  the  honor  felt  by  the  members  of  such  societies  as 
those  of  the  Colonial  wars,  the  Cincinnati.  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, Aztec  Club,  Sons  of  Veterans,  and  many  others.  And  it 
is  true:  "Those  will  not  look  forward  to  their  posterity  who 
never  look  l)ackward  to  their  ancestors." 

Of  the  countless  millions  of  hiunan  beings  wlio  in  successive 
generations  have  passed  over  the  stage  of  life,  most  of  them,  on 
their  exit,  have  sunk  into  ol)livion.  The  names  of  twenty-seven 
are  all  that  are  known  of  the  hiunan  family  from  man's  creation 
down  to  the  days  of  Noah. 

From  the  deluge  to  the  present  time  a  few  men  of  great  gen- 
ius as  poets,  historians,  warriors,  conquerors,  and  criminals 
claim  general  recognition  from  mankind.  All  others  are  rele- 
gated or  consigned  to  the  special  history  of  a  people,  and  thereby 
rescued  from  an  otherwise  oblivion.  As  individuals  they  per- 
ish. 

1  am  quite  sure  we  are  more  indebted  to  Boswell  for  a  true 
insight  into  the  life  and  character  of  Samuel  Johnson  than  we 
are  to  his  writings,  and  there  is  the  utmost  interest  attached  to 
the  home  life  of  all  the  world's  great  actors.     Even  as  late  as  our 


2  7' I  CO  ][''ai;s. 

revolutionary  war  wv  Hnd  iiuicli  interest  in  tlie  part  played  by 
the  fashionahle  ladies  durin<r  the  war.  and  aossip  of  the  >\'istnr 
l)arties.  and  card  parlies  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  From 
the  •'  Miscliianza  "  '■  we  have  a  clear  insiorht  to  the  true  and  gentle 
<-haraeter  of  Major  Andre  and  his  aeconii)lishnients:  and  the 
heauty  of  some  of  the  Quaker  CUty  Ijelles. 

Now  in  consideration  of  the  desire  of  everv  ofentleman  to  have 
a  knowledo-e  of  his  ancestry,  and  some  knowledire  of  the  times 
in  which  they  lived.  I  ])ui'])ose  for  the  benetil  of  my  children  to 
Mrite  down  somewhat  of  Ihintrs  I  have  seen  and  a  part  of  which 
I  was.  and  to  make  mention  of  some  of  the  famou.s  men  w'itii 
whom  I  have  heen  acquainted  durin<>' the  eventful  years  between 
1839  and  the  present  time  (ISli:)). 

As  I  was  an  otHcer  in  the  rnited  States  army  from  1843  to 
1856,  and  a  major  <):eneral  in  the  Confederate  army.  I  purpose 
to  relate  some  of  the  events  of  the  Mexican  and  Confederate 
wars  in  the  course  of  this  narrative. 

I  was  boi-n  in  the  county  of  (Jhmcester,  State  of  New  Jersey, 
on  NoNcmber  I'l!.  l^ls.  .My  father's  name  was  Samuel  French, 
whose  ancestry  in  this  country  runs  liack  to  Thomas  French, 
who  descended  fi'om  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  honorable  of 
English  families.  The  Ffi-enches  were  Normans  and  went  to 
Enofland  wdth  William  the  Con<|ueror.  In  after  days  some  of 
the  family  went  with  Strongbow,  the  Kai'l  of  lVm})roke.  when 
he  invaded  li'eland  and  "laid  waste  the  country,  reducing 
everything  to  subjection."  whereby  they  gained  gi-eat  posses- 
sions. Thomas  Ffrench,  who  was  a  descendant  of  the  Norman 
Ffrenchs.  was,  as  the  register  shows.  l)ai)ti/.e(l  in  the  church  now 
standing  in  Nether  Hayford,  North  IIanii)tonshire.  in  the  year 
1537.     The  })ainting  of  that  church  you  ha\ c 

A  direct  descendant  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Ffrench.  also 
named  Thomas  Ffrench.  an  adherent  of  the  Church  of  Kngland, 
foi'  some  reason  abandoned  it  and  became  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends  ((Quakers),  and  for  this  apostasy  was  persecu- 
ted and  imprisoned.  To  escape  the  ])ersecution  he  sailed  to  tiie 
colonies,  and  when  he  returned  to  England  he  became  "'one  of 
the  landed  piopi'ietors  of  West  New^  Jersey  in  America."' 

*A  U'tp  fjrivcii  l)y  Maj.  Aiulre  in  Philadelphia,  May.  1778.  in  honor  of  Sir 
\Villi;iiii  IIowo. 


.I.V    f.MI'ORTAX'l'  DOCUMEST.  3 

Taking  pasisage  for  himself,  wife,  and  nine  children,  he  landed 
in  Burlinirton,  West  New  ,Iersey,  on  the  :^l)(l  of  .July.  1()S(»,  O.  S. 

In  l<;tt4  Charles  II.  granted  to  his  brother,  the  Dukeof  York, 
the  tei'ritoi'v  along  oiu'  const  noith  of  the  mouth  of  the  Dela- 
ware river.  The  duke  sold  the  land  lying  between  the  Delaware 
and  Hudson  ri\ers  to  the  forty-hrst  degree  of  north  latitude  to 
Lord  riohn  Berkeley  and  Sir  dohn  Cartaret,  who  named  it  New 
Ca^sarea.  or  New  Jersey.  They  divided  it  into  East  and  West 
Jersey;  but  later,  the  grant  l)eing  unsatisfactory  to  the  king, 
owing  to  contlicting  claims  of  the  j)i'o|)iMet()rs  jind  theii'  heirs, 
.lames  in  ifjsi)  comi)elled  them  to  siu'render  or  sell  their  claims 
to  the  crown,  and  all  wei-e  end)odied  in  one  province,  New  .Jer- 
sey. Thomas  French,  under  these  ])r()ceediugs,  signed  the  arti- 
cles reliniiuishing  to  the  king  his  })ro})rietary  ])rivileges  to  the 
one-ninetieth  of  the  one-eighth  of  ^^'est  .Jersey.  Thus  NeAV  .Jer- 
sey became  a  royal  colony  after  the  king  bought  the  rights  of  the 
])roprietors.  Sir  .John  Carteret  named  the  land  purchased  New 
.Jersey  l)ecause  he  had  been  governor  of  the  Isle  of  .Jersey  otf 
the  coast  of  France  in  the  English  Channel. 

My  mother's  name  was  I^ebecca  Clark.  She  was  born  .January 
1,  1700,  at  Billingsport,  on  the  l)anks  of  the  Delaware  river,  in 
New  Jersey.  She  was  married  to  my  father  on  the  8d  day  of 
October,  181B.  The  namesoftlu>ir  children  were:  Garret,  Sam- 
uel G.,  Charles  C,  .John  C,  Sal  lie  C.,  and  George  W. 

Passing  from  family  records,  I  will  now  revert  to  myself,  and 
w'ill  endeavor  to  show  what  creatures  of  circumstances  most  men 
are.  One  day,  when  a  boy  (aged  about  eight  years ),  my  father 
left  me  at  a  store  in  Market  Street,  near  Water  Street,  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  where  he  usually  obtained  his  family  groceries.  Over 
the  door  of  that  store  was  a  modest  signboard,  and  on  it  was 
painted  the  names,  Hamilton  and  Hood.  Mr.  Hood  was  always 
kind  to  me,  and  usually  gave  me  a  paper  of  candy  or  other 
sweetmeats.  On  this  })articular  occasion,  it  being  a  rainy  day, 
1  was  left  there  alone  with  Mr.  Hood,  and  I  reniend)er  now — 
although  near  seventy  years  have  i)assed  what  there  and  then 
occurred.  Fating  candies  and  playing  about  in  the  store.  I  dis- 
covered hanging  in  the  ofliee  a  picture  of  a  young  person  ( full- 
size  ])ust)  clad  in  a  gray  coat,  with  three  rows  of  round  brass 
buttons  thereon,  braided  horizontally.  From  some  cause  it 
riveted  my  boyish  attention.     After  looking  at  it  for  sometime, 


4  7' no  ]\'ai/s. 

I  excliiiined:  '*  ^\'ll(^  is  tliiit^"  Mr.  Hood  replied:  '"Tliiit  i.s  my 
son.''  ''What  is  lie  dressed  so  Hue  for?"  I  asked.  Mr.  Hood 
then  told  me  his  son  was  a  cadet  at  the  United  States  military 
academy  at  West  l\)int:  that  he  was  at  sc1hk)1  there.  Danciu": 
around,  I  said:  "I  want  loii'o  to  that  school  too."  The  response 
was.  ''Only  a  few  l)oys  can  a"o  to  that  school;  to  cret  there  the 
boy's  father  must  have  intliience  with  the  President,  and  get  an 
appointment  from  him."  etc.  I  still  looked  at  the  picture,  and 
I  can  see  it  to-day  as  I  did  then.  It  will  never  be  effaced.  As 
years  rolled  on,  and  T  knew  nothing  about  A\'est  Point,  except 
that  it  was  not  oi)en  to  all  a])|)licants,  it  was  fading  away  in  my 
mind,  until  one  day  when  passing  along  Chestnut  Street  I  saw  in 
the  window  of  a  clothing  house  a  large  i)icture  of  the  cadets  of 
the  ITnited  States  military  academy  on  dress  parade.  I  gazed 
on  it  a  very  long  time,  oblivious  to  all  ai'ound  me,  calling  to 
mind  only  the  remarks  made  to  me  by  Mr.  Hood:  on  these  I 
pondered  long,  and  made  some  inquiries,  and  iinally  resolved  to 
make  an  effort  to  get  an  appointment  to  the  academy.  On  en- 
tering school,  kept  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Aaron  in  Burlington, 
N.  J.,  my  roommate  was  a  boy  named  Duer,  who  was  from 
Pennsylvania.  One  day  he  opened  his  trunk  and  showed  me  his 
appointment  as  a  cadet  to  the  United  States  Military  Academy. 
I  told  him  I  wanted  to  go  there  also,  and  questioned  him  about 
how  he  o])tained  the  appointment.  It  was  the  same  story  that 
Mr.  Hood  had  told  me  when  1  was  almost  a  child.  But,  un- 
daunted by  the  re(juirements,  I  resolved  to  act  for  myself,  for 
up  to  this  time  I  had  not  mentioncnl  the  subject  to  either  my 
father  or  mother,  because  the  former  belonged  to  the  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers;  save  only  that,  marrying  ''out  of  meeting," 
he  was  no  longer  regarded  as  an  orthodox  member,  and  they 
were  not  considered  as  warlike  people  in  any  respect.  Accord- 
ingly, when  at  home  one  day,  1  wrote  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  asking  in  the  name  of  my  father  the  appointment. 
As  his  name  was  the  same  as  mine.  I  sui)posed  I  would  get  the 
reply  myself  from  the  post  otHce. 

I  was  on  the  lookout  for  the  answei",  when  onechiy  in  walked, 
to  our  house,  my  Quaker  Uncle  Charles,  and  handed  to  my  fa- 
ther a  letter  that  looked  to  me  a  foot  long,  and  as  it  had  on  the 
envelo])e  ''War  Department,  Engineer's  Office  "  in  large  letters, 
he  sai<l  he  was  "anxious  to  know  the  contents  of  the  docmnent.',' 


ArroisTMi'.sT  to  W^est  1*0 ist.  5 

As  fjither  replied  he  did  not  understand  w  liy  such   a   letU!r  was 
sent  to  him,  I  rose  "to  explain."' 

My  father  said  hut  little,  hut  my  inu-Ie  created  some  confu- 
sion hv  tellin<r  the  family  I  was  «roin<>:  to  the  "howwows"  and 
the  "had  place."  Without  waitinir  to  first  ascertain  whether  I 
was  "goinof  to  the  war"  or  not,  several  of  my  Quaker  aunts 
called  soon  after  to  say  trood-by  before  I  ^ot  shot,  as  they  were 
.sure  the  British  would  kill  me,  so  tilled  were  their  minds  with 
"war's  alarums''  caused  by  the  war  of  lsi2. 

When  peace  Avas  restored  and  my  uncle  <2fone,  my  father  told 
me  that  if  I  really  desired  the  position  he  would  aid  me  in  get- 
ting it.  So  one  day  he  took  me  with  him  and  called  on  Charles 
C.  Stratton,  a  relation  of  ours  living  near  by,  and  then  a  Whig 
]\Ieniber  of  Congress.  New  Jersey  was  not  at  that  time  divided 
into  congressional  districts,  and  a  Whig  delegation  was  seated 
in  Congi-ess  under  "the  broad  seal  of  New  Jersey,"  and  had  no 
intluencc  with  a  Democratic  administration;  and  so  no  appoint- 
ment came. 

But,  nothing  discoiu'aged,  the  following  winter,  being  still  at 
the  Burlington  Academy,  I  called  one  day  on  Gen.  Garret  D 
Wall,  then  one  of  our  United  States  Senators,  a  resident  of  Bur- 
lington. I  made  known  to  him  the  object  of  my  calling.  He 
listened  attentively  to  my  request,  said  that  he  knew  my  father 
and  many  of  my  relatives  very  well,  and  that  he  would  aid  me. 
The  winter  passed,  Congress  had  adjourned,  and  no  appointment 
came. 

About  this  time  my  father,  passing  through  the  town  of 
AVoodbury,  N.  J.,  happened  to  stop  at  the  courthouse;,  and 
meeting  Senator  Wall  there,  asked  him  about  mj^cadetship,  who, 
on  being  told  the  appointment  had  not  been  received,  sat  down 
in  the  court  room,  wrote  a  few  lines  to  the  President,  handed 
them  to  father,  and  told  him  to  mail  them.  In  a  few  days  the 
appointment  came,  the  reward  of  diligent  perseverance  and  wait- 
ing. 

Good  Mr.  Hood  I  I  suppose  1  often  stopped  at  his  store  in 
after  years,  and  yet  I  can  only  call  to  mind  one  allusion  made  to 
West  Point.  He  told  me  once  that  his  son,  Lieut.  Washington 
Hood,  was  in  Cuba  surveying  a  route  for  a  railroad — for  Tacon, 
Governor-General  of  Cuba — from  Havana  to  Matanzas. 

As  there  may  l)e  a  desire  in  long  after  years  to  have  a  knowl- 


6  Tno  W.4iis. 

edofe  of  how  the  '"  well-to-do"  fariners  Vwvd  in  the  early  part  of 
the  present  century  in  New  Jersey,  1  will  describe  the  condition 
of  the  peoyjle  at  my  father's.  New  Jersey  was  a  slave  State 
when  1  was  l»orn.  In  1820  slavery  was  abolished;  but  there 
were  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  slaves  for  life  in  1S5<>  in  the 
State,  because  it  did  not  emancipate  a  slave  then  in  being.  It 
only  set  free  the  vuhorn  hahext.  Vou  see  the  difference  between 
aholltloii  and  euauicipntiouX  The  superabundance  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life  at  that  period  can  scarcely  be  realized  now,  and  ev- 
ery one  fared  sumptuously,  and  nearly  all  alike.  I'nder  the 
house  there  were  four  cellars.  As  winter  approached,  perha|)s 
forty  cords  of  oak  and  hickory  wood,  four  feet  in  length,  were 
hauled  to  the  W'ood  pile.  Some  twenty  or  more  fat  hogs  were 
killed,  the  hams  and  shoulders  sugar-cure<l  and  smoked  in  a  large 
stone  smokehouse.  The  sides,  etc.,  were  salted  down  in  great 
cedar  tanks.  The  Ijeeves  were  killed,  the  rounds  dried,  not 
smoked,  and  the  rest  "corned.''  Minced  meat  and  sausage,  in 
linked  chains  l)y  the  hundreds  of  pounds,  cider  l)()iled  down  in 
great  co})per  kettles,  and  apple  butter  and  pear  sauce  made  with- 
out stint.  Shad  from  the  fishery  were  bought  for  salting  down 
for  six  dollars  per  hundred.  Oysters  by  the  wagon  load  were 
in  winter  put  in  the  cellar  and  kept  fat  by  sprinkling  them  with 
brine  and  corn  meal.  In  bins  the  choice  apples  were  stored, 
each  variety  by  itself,  for  daily  use,  while  large  quantities  were 
buried  in  the  earthen  pits  for  spring.  On  the  swinging  shelves 
was  the  product  of  the  dairy,  cheese  and  butter.  Four  hogs- 
heads were  kept  full  of  cider  vinegar;  and  "apple  jack"  (apple 
biandy)  in  l)arrels  in  a  row,  according  to  age;  great  old-fash- 
ioned demijohns  were  kept  full  of  cherries,  wild  and  cultivated, 
covered  with  brandy.  Apples,  peaches,  pears,  huckleberries, 
currants,  ])lums,  etc.,  were  dried  on  scaffolds  in  the  sun  for  pies 
and  othei'  i)urposes:  and  the  children  forgot  not  their  ample 
sup])ly  of  chestnuts,  shellbarks,  hazelnuts,  etc.  Turkeys,  geese, 
and  barnyard  fowls  were  raised  largely,  but  they  w^ere  consid- 
ered pi-oduce  for  sale.  There  w^as  no  stint  to  these  superabun- 
dant supi)lies.  and  they  were  yearly  consvnned.  Rabbits,  pheas- 
ants, ])artridges,  and  woodcock  were  abundant,  and  often  were 
secured  l)y  trai)ping;  and  the  ponds  and  streams  were  filled  with 
fish.  I  might  perhaps  convey  to  you  a  ))etter  idea  of  the  abun- 
dance of  fruit  and  its  cheapness  by  stating  that  I  have  seen  wag- 


Xhir  .1  HUSKY  Faum  Liih.  7 

ons  conic  to  tlic  farm  t'oi-  peaches,  and  ihcy  wcic  told  lo  i^o  into 
the  orclnird  and  irt't  as  many  as  they  wanted,  and  on  comintr  out 
an  I'stimatc  would  he  made  of  the  number  of  bushels  withered, 
and  ihcy  were  charofed  ten  cents  per  bushel.  Apples,  the  finest 
of  varieties,  were  unsaia))le.  and  were  hauled  to  the  <rreat  public 
cider  mill,  o;roand  uj)  for  cidei-,  and  that  distilled  into  brandy  on 
shares  -  that  is.  the  mills  allowed  the  farnie|i  a  certain  number  of 
ijallons  of  brandy  for  c\  cry  hundred  bushels  of  a})ples  delivered. 
And  as  numerous  as  were  these  ofreat  cider  mills,  I  have  seen 
the  orates  locked  and  teams  turned  away  because  of  the  supply 
exceedintr  the  capacity  of  the  })resses. 

There  were  (iermans  who  W()\e  cai'})ets,  and  mills  that  con- 
verted the  wool  into  clotli.  All  alonir  the  king's  hio^hway,  which 
was  marked  with  irranite  shafts  for  milestones,  each  one  denot- 
iuo-,  in  carved  letters,  how  many  miles  it  was  to  Camden  (Coop- 
er's Ferry),  there  were  snnth's  shops,  wheelwrights,  cabinet- 
makers, and  country  shoemakers,  and  taverns  for  entertainment 
of  '*  man  and  beasts." 

Daily,  four-horse  stagecoaches,  carrying  the  mail  and  passen- 
gers, passed  over  the  road,  and,  by  common  consent,  I  svippose, 
they  were  granted  the  right  of  way,  or  it  may  have  been  the  last 
lingering  observance  of  respect  to  kingly  prerogative. 

Now  somewhere  in  this  part  of  the  country  there  lived  an  old 
and  very  ])()lite  Frenchman.  He  possessed  a  pony  and  a  little 
wagon,  and  in  that  wagon  he  carried  a  bench,  his  lasts,  and  his 
tools,  for  he  was  a  shoemaker,  and  went  the  rounds  of  the  neigh- 
l)orhood  to  make,  yearly,  the  family  shoes.  Out  of  morocco 
imported  from  Barbary,  calfskin  from  France,  and  leather  from 
the  village  tannery  he  fashioned  most  beautiful  boots  and  shoes 
for  male  and  female;  yes,  neat  and  betitting  they  w^ere;  and  how 
long  they  lasted  I  Wonder  not  that  I  have  introduced  you  to 
this  polite  and  kind  old  Frenchman.  He  belonged  to  the  Em- 
peror's old  guaid.  and  after  Waterloo  he  came  to  this  country. 
Young  as  I  was.  many  times  and  oft  would  I  persuade  him  to 
tell  me  of  '"the  battles,  sieges,  fortunes  he  had  passed,  of  mov- 
ing incidents  of  flood  and  tield,  of  hairl)readtli  escapes,"  and 
grand  charges  he  had  made  under  the  eye  of  the  Emperor,  how 
he  detested  England  and  loved  the  vine-clad  hills  and  pleasant 
fields  of  France.  At  our  house  he  would  fix  himself  uy)  in  the 
loft  over  the  carriage  house,  and  then  while  at  work  he  would 


8  Two  IV. I  Its. 

tell  us  hoys  so  iiuuli  about  the  '"  Littl(>  Corporar' niul  tlu'ijrand 
marshuls  of  France. 

His  a])i(lino:  faith  in  and  admiration  for  tlie  Kniperor  passed 
all  bounds.  \\'lien  it  was  known  to  all  the  world  that  Xapoleon 
was  dead,  sleepino-  in  a  lone  o^rave  in  a  far  distant  island,  guarded 
by  English  bayonets,  as  though  he  might  "awake  to  glory 
again"  and  make  tke  little  monarchs  trendile  once  more  even  at 
his  name,  this  devoted  soldier  of  the  old  guard  would  not  t)elieve 
it,  and  swore  it  was  an  English  lie. 

I  have  given  these  minute  details  of  the  manner  in  whieh  the 
people  lived  in  New  Jersey  and  adjoining  States  in  the  olden 
times,  ■'  when  the  richest  were  poor  and  the  i)oorest  had  al)un- 
dance."*  to  show  you  how  well  they  lived,  how  coinfortal)ly  clad, 
and  how  content  they  Avere  in  the  days  when  trusts,  combines, 
and  })i'otective  tariffs  were  unknown,  and  no  great  corporations 
existed.  To-day  (1(S5*5)  these  great  combines  have  destroyed  in- 
di\  idual  competition,  and  impoverished  more  than  half  the  en- 
tile population  of  the  country  and  j-educed  it  to  rigidity  of  hours 
and  the  .vA/zv/v/  of  irages.  They  control  legislation,  coi'rupt  the 
courts,  sul>si(lize  the  press,  maintain  advocates  in  the  pulpits, 
and  this  will  estrange  the  poor  from  the  rich  more  widely  than 
the  ])easant  fi-om  the  })rince;  and,  continued,  may  implant  an 
unkindly  feeling,  which,  if  not  placate*!,  may  have  to  be  settled 
by  a  resort  to  arms. 

What  a  change  has  sixty-tive  years  wroughtl  The  stage- 
coach has  (lisa])peared  on  the  adxcnt  of  raili-oads,  steam  will 
be  displaced  by  electricity  as  the  candle  and  lam})  have  been,  and 
as  the  friction  match  has  banished  the  flint  and  steel  and  tinder 
box.  the  scythe  and  sickle  have  been  superseded  by  the  mower, 
the  magnificent  sailing  ships  have  given  way  to  the  ocean  racers. 
Ere  long  w(»  will  see  the  wind  pass  by  as  Ave  see  the  streams  of 
water  now.  "The  cloud  of  witnesses  around  that  hold  us  in  full 
survey"  may  themselves  be  seen,  for  Ave  are  discovering  the  se- 
crets of  Arcana  every  day;  the  source  of  life  and  the  mystery  of 
death  will  soon  l»e  discovered. 

When  1  was  a  boy  the  habitat  of  the  Yankee  did  not  extend 
south  of  Connecticut,  as  bounded  l)y  that  elegant  writer,  Wash- 
ington Irving,  in  his  verUaMe  history  of  Ncav  York.  In  that 
Knickerbocker  history  you  will  find  the  southern  limit  of  the 
Yankee.     Is  it  possible  to  conceive  that  Wouter  van  Twiller, 


.1  Rral  Yaskkh.  9 

Kij)  \;in  Winkle.  A\'illi}ini  the  Testy,  or  Peter  the  Iloudstrong, 
and  the  drowsy.  (h'cuiMy  Diiteli  peopk^  of  New  Anistcrdain  were 
Yankees^  Xol  they  dwelt  farther  iioith;  yet  they  inijj^ht  have 
overrun  and  snlxhied  New  Amsterdam  had  not  their  iniuds  been 
divei'ted  l)y  a  sudden  outbreak  of  witchcraft,  that  ati'ordcdthese 
saints  intinite  anuisement  in  a  pious  way,  which  saved  New  Am- 
sterdam. ^\'llen  I  was  younff  it  was  not  considered  compliment- 
ary or  })rudent  to  call  a  hoy  of  your  own  size  a  "Yankee." 

]My  lirst  recolhx'tion  of  seeing;  a  real  Yankee  was  connected 
with  a  clock.  At  home  there  stood  in  the  hall  an  eight-day 
ck)ck.  nearly  eight  feet  high,  and  it  is  to-day  in  the  city  of 
Woodbury,  N.  fJ.,  in  possession  of  my  sister,  Mrs,  John  G. 
Whitali.  On  its  face  are  the  words,  '"  Hollingshead,  Woods- 
town,  X.  J.,  ITTO."  I  infer  that  it  might  have  commenced  re- 
cording time  about  ihe  hour  that  tlie  lil)erty  bell  in  Independence 
Hall,  Phila4lel})hia,  on  a  certain  fourth  of  July  rang  out  the  Bi- 
ble proclamation  of  liberty  to  all  the  land,  and  the  "inhabitants 
thereof. '"*•■  It  is  a  clock  of  some  re})ute.  It  has  Araliic  numer- 
als to  express  the  hours.  The  pendulum  was  adjusted  in  length 
to  the  latitude,  and  vil)rated  every  second  and  recorded  it.  It 
marked  the  day  of  the  month,  and  the  month  itself,  and  a  pic- 
ture of  a  round-faced  female  would  pee])  up  from  behind  the 
scenes  just  as  the  moon  rose,  and  veiled  her  face  when  she  set. 
In  the  absence  of  the  moon  a  ship  sailed  slowly  on. 

It  had  another  accomplishment:  an  alarm  that  was  worse  than 
a  Chinese  gong.  1  should  think  that  handsome  clock,  which  has 
l>een  recording  time  now  for  one  hundred  and  nineteen  years, 
wouhl  have  sufficed;  but  no!  One  bright  May  morning,  when 
all  the  fruit  trees  were  in  bloom,  and  the  Avhite-faced  bumble- 
bees were  ijuzzing  around,  and  the  air  was  redolent  with  per- 
fume, a  wagon  stopped  at  the  gate,  and  a  tall,  lean  individual 
came  to  the  door  and  wished  to  see  the  mistress  of  the  house. 
Said  he  was  "a  stranger  in  these  parts,  that  his  load  was  too 
heavy  for  his  horse,  and  that  he  had  clocks  and  other  notions." 
Father  was  not  in,  so  my  mother  gave  him  permission  to  leave 
a  clock  until  such  time  as  he  would  call  for  it.  So  he  brought 
in  an  eight-day  clock  about  three  feet  high  and  adjusted  it  on 

*"  Proclaim  liberty  tliroughont  all  tlip  land  unto  all  I  lie  itihabitants 
thereof."     (Lev.  xxv.  10.) 


10  Tyro  ]rAHS. 

the  nuuilcl  in  llic  diiiiiiir  room.  It  was  jatlici'  ornamental,  and 
instead  of  tlie  common,  everyday  tiofnres  sueh  as  were  in  the 
multiplieation  tal)le.  it  had  an  I  for  one,  and  II  for  two,  and  so 
on,  which  was  the  Konian  style:  and  then  when  it  struck  the 
hours,  instead  of  rinofinir  a  hell,  the  hannner  fell  on  a  coil  of 
Avire,  producinir  Jt  cathedral  sound  that  died  away  far  off. 

We  all  soon  irot  used  to  the  clock,  and  some  three  months 
after  when  the  man  t-alled  to  take  his  clock  away  mother  said 
she  Avas  attached  to  it  and  would  keep  it.  It  was  all  a  Yankee 
trick  to  sell  the  clock,  for  he  dis])osed  of  many  others  in  the 
same  Avay.  The  ^'ankee  clock  has  ticked  its  last  tick,  but  the 
old  eio-ht-day  clock  may  outlive  the  nation  whose  hours  from  its 
birth  it  has,  l)y  seconds,  recorded.  All  f/(>ii/-  life  yon  have  heard 
the  people  of  this  country  north  of  the  slave  States  called  Yan- 
kees, and  the  j)e(>ple  south  Confederates,  which  is  not  true,  but 
only  an  incident  of  the  war.  , 

In  Philadelphia  I  w^as  j)i-esent  at  the  dedication  of  Pennsylva- 
nia Hall.  May  ITi,  1S;>S.  an  abolition  edifice.  It  was  ainiounced 
that  David  Paul  P)rown  would  otiiciate  at  the  dedication.  His 
reputation  as  a  lawyer  and  an  orator  was  well  known,  and  on 
this  occasion  he  did  some  staofe  actinof  with  tine  eti'ect.  He  was 
hidden  away  fi'om  the  surofing  audience  in  some  manner,  and 
after  the  chaiiinan  had  stated  the  object  of  the  meetina:  he  closed 
his  remarks  by  sayintj  that  David  Paul  Brown  had  proinhed  to 
be  present  to  deliver  the  address.  Presto!  From  concealment 
he  rose  to  his  full  heiofht  and  exclaimed:  "'And  1  am  here  to 
fidtill  that  promise,  a  promise  as  fi-eely  tjiven  as  it  shall  befeai-- 
lessly  peifoi'med.  and  as  lii<rh  priest  of  this  day's  sacrifice  I  ded- 
icate this  hall  to  freedom."  etc.  A  short  time  after,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  some  ieii  tjionxiind  sji,  <-ftif<irs,  I  saw  about  twenty  per- 
sons, unmolested,  batter  down  the  doors  and  destroy  the  build- 
ing by  fire;  and  from  its  ashes  spiuni;'  up  the  free  soil  party. 

As  fashion  plates  of  dress  worn  sixty  yeai's  aofo  are  not  plen- 
tiful, I  will  bi-ielly  refer  to  the  tyrant.  Fashion.  Men  wore  tio'ht 
pants,  two  inches  lonoci'  behind  than  befoi'e.  In  front  they 
were  cut  away  so  as  lo  expose  the  instep,  and  were  fastened 
down  undcj'  the  boot  with  a  ])antaloon  stiaj).  and  it  w'as  no  small 
job  to  <ret  the  pants  otl.  The  coat  had  a  collar  (juilted  to  give  it 
stiffness,  and  was.  bi'hind.  al)out  four  inches  bi-oad,  and  one 
could  iHtt  throw  his  head   back  and   well    enjoy  a   merry  laugh. 


'/'///•;  F.isii/o.xs.  11 

Then  in  t'loiil  lliey  woic  as  neck  <r('.'ir  a  sfocl,-^  yes  a  stud,-  alxxit 
as  I'omfortaMo  as  those  })iil>lic  ones  used  tor  punishinir  criminals. 
These  stocks  were  nearly  four  inches  wide.  consistin<r  of  a  pad 
of  bristles  of  the  hog,  fashioned  to  lit  the  neck,  and  were  cov- 
ered with  dark  silks  or  satin.  The  lower  part  rested  on  thecol- 
hir  hone,  and  the  upper  sui)i)orted  the  head  aloft  while  the  shirt 
collar  cut  the  ears.  It  was  "heads  up.  eyes  to  the  front,"  and 
one  seldom  saw  his  hoots.  Vounir  men  could  not  cross  their 
legs  when  sitting  in  a  chair  without  accident.  John  Pope,  bet- 
ter known  as  (Jen.  Poi)e,  when  on  fui-Jough  returned  to  West 
Point  with  nice  linen  pants,  with  stra\)s  at  the  bottom  and  open 
down  the  front,  which  was  found  very  convenient  for  a  soldier 
who  had  to  wear  a  waist  belt;  and  although  it  shocked  the  sense 
of  ])roi)riety  of  some  maideidy  ladies,  it  caught  the  eye  of  Maj. 
Richard  Delatield,  Superintendent  of  the  Academy.  His  hol)- 
bies  were  economy  and  practical  utility.  He  saw  the  advantage 
of  Pope's  breeches  over  the  broad  flap  l)uttoned  at  the  side,  and 
notwithstanding  the  protest  of  Mrs.  Delaheld— who  Avas  repoi't- 
ed  to  have  said  "the  cadets  thus  dressed  should  not  (;ome  in  per- 
son to  the  house  w^ith  their  account  ))()oks  foi'  orders" — and 
other  ladies,  that  stern  old  soldier  gave  the  tailor  permission  to 
make  the  cadet  pants  oj)en  in  front,  and  that  consigned  to  ob- 
livion the  broad  fia])  i)ants.  West  Point  then,  as  the  Prince  of 
Wales  now,  set  the  fashions;  Pope's  i)attern  of  breeches  are  now 
worn  by  all  Christian  men,  and  some  that  are  not  of  that  re- 
ligion. 

Out  of  all  the  students  that  were  at  the  academy  in  Burling- 
ton. I  know  of  but  one  living  now.  Gen.  W.  W.  H.  Davis,  of 
Doylestown,  Pa.  He  was  aid  to  Gen.  Crushing  during  the  Mexi- 
can war,  and  a  general  in  the  Fnion  army  during  the  late  war 
between  the  States. 

After  my  api)ointment  as  a  cadet  1  made  no  ])i-eparation  foi' 
the  examination  for  admission  to  the  Academy,  bectiuse  1  had  no 
doubt  of  being  able  to  meet  the  mental  examination,  for  I  had 
mastered  nearly  every  elementai'v  branch  of  mathematics,  in- 
cluding navigation  and  Mutton's  recreations  in  mathematics.  I 
never  understood  or  realized  the  "recreatitm"  concealed  in  that 
volume.  Recreation,  however,  is  very  often  a  matter  of  taste. 
There  was  a  young  officer  on  my  stall,  Vs\  T.  Freeman,  who 
found  recreation  in  going  on  every  expedition,  demonstration. 


12  Two  Wars. 

or  tight  that  was  on  hand;  and  that  ^ood  soldier,  Gen.  Richard 
S.  Ewell,  often  would  seek  recreation  by  a  visit  to  the  picket 
line  to  see  what  the  "Yanks"  were  doinsf.  Taste  will  ditler,  you 
observe. 

When  the  time  was  near  at  hand  tor  nie  to  report  at  West 
Point,  sonieof  my  Quaker  aimts  came  to  sec  me.  They  hadofotten 
pretty  well  over  the  belief  that  the  British  would  kill  me,  or  that 
we  Avould  soon  have  another  war  with  England.  Our  relatives 
were  numerous  about  Trenton,  Evesham,  Ked  Hank,  Billings- 
port,  and  all  the  region  around,  and  stories  of  the  old  war  were 
common.  I  will  relate  but  one:  When  Count  Donop,  with  his  six 
battalions  of  Hessians,  came  down  through  Haddonlield  to  cap- 
ture the  fortilications  on  the  Delaware  river  at  Red  Bank,  a 
Hessian  soldier  strayed  away  from  the  ranks,  and,  entering  the 
back  yard,  came  up  to  the  back  porch  of  a  farmer's  dwelling. 
There  was  a  churn  (in  form  a  truncated  cone — that  is,  it  was  big 
at  the  bottom  and  small  at  the  top);  and  moreover,  it  contained 
fresh  l)uttermilk.  The  poor  fellow  took  up  the  churn  and  was 
enjoying  a  drink  when  a  stout  servant  girl,  coming  to  the  door, 
took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  and,  instead  of  crying  "Mur- 
der,'" she  took  hold  of  the  bottom  of  the  churn,  raised  it  up,  and 
thrust  it  down  (piickly  over  his  head.  It  was  a  tight  tit,  and  as 
he  could  not  remove  the  churn  ho  was  captured,  hid  away,  and 
delivered  to  the  garrison  after  the  defeat  of  Donop's  tr()()})s. 
Donop  was  killed.  Often  and  often  I  wandered  o\  er  Red  Bank 
and  Billingsport  when  a  l)oy,  sitting  down  on  the  great  iron  can- 
non strewn  all  around,  meditating  on  war. 

I  now  bade  adieu  to  good  Quaker  uncles  and  aunts  (I  say  good 
— yes,  more  deserving,  truthful,  honest  ]:>eople  than  the  Quakers 
cannot  be  found,  for  they  are  all  good)  and  father  and  mother, 
and  took  the  stage  for  Philadelphia,  thence  by  the  Canulen  and 
Amboy  railroad  went  to  Kew  York.  The  two  great  hotels  in 
New  York  then  were  the  Astor  House  and  the  American. 

I  felt  lonely  in  the  city  crowd,  and,  strolling  "down  Broad- 
way," heard  the  noise  of  voices  in  a  hall,  or  perhaps  it  was  in  a 
church,  so  I  went  in,  and  soon  the  orator  exclaimed,  "  It  present- 
ed to  the  world  the  hrst  instance  of  a  Church  without  a  l)islio})," 
upon  which  great  applause  followed,  which  I  did  not  compre- 
hend, and  at  the  same  time  an  elderly  gentleman  rose  up  and 
left  the  stage,  causing  some  commotion.     By  the  ])apers  I  learned 


J  7     U'hST  I'OIXT.  13 

that  they  wero  f('k'l)iatinir  their  New  Kiifrhiiid  diiiiier,  that  the 
orator  was  Kufus  ('hoate.  and  the  indiirnaiit  <rentlenian  was 
Bisho])  \\  aiiiw  riiilil.  all  of  which  led  to  a  loiii;-  and  bitter  news- 
paper controveisy.  Leavin<r  New  York  City,  I  went  by  steamer 
up  the  Hudson  river  to  my  ])la('e  of  destination  at  the  foot  of 
the  Catskill  Mountains,  then  robed  in  })urple  from  the  setting 
sun. 

1  shall  never  for<ret  my  voyage  on  the  Hudson  when  life  was 
young  and  all  was  bright  and  fair,  and  hope  imparted  a  feeling 
of  joy  and  gladness  to  all  my  environments.  There  were  sev- 
eral candidates  for  admission  to  the  Academy  at  the  hotel.  In 
the  morning  when  I  came  down  to  breakfast  I  chanced  to  take 
a  seat  beside  a  smart-looking,  black-eyed  boy,  and,  finding  him 
not  inquisitive,  I  remarked  to  him,  'T  suppose  you  have  a  cadet 
appointment;"  and  in  the  twinkle  of  an  eye  he  answered  my 
question  by  exclaiming,  "May  I  ask  you  the  same  question r' 
I  was  amazed,  but  re\erting  to  his  reply,  I  calmly  and  deliber- 
ately told  him  that  his  inquiry  would  be  responded  to  first,  and 
then  he  could  answer  mine  at  his  leisure.  That  boy  was  from 
Connecticut.  He  graduated  second  in  his  class;  his  name  is 
George  Deshon;  he  is  a  Jesuit  father,  Redemptorist,  and  Paulist, 
and  resides  in  New  York  City,  spending  his  life  for  the  good  of 
a  fallen  race. 

I  was  having  a  pleasant  rest  at  the  hotel,  and  had  been  there 
two  or  three  days  when  an  orderly  made  his  appearance  with  an 
order  for  all  the  candidates  for  admission  to  report  at  headquar- 
ters. Frederick  Steele,  J.  J.  Booker,  and  I  were  assigned  to  a 
room  in  the  south  barracks. 

I  cannot  recall  to  mind  much  about  the  examination;  I  only 
remember  Capt.  A\'.  W.  S.  Bliss  asking  us  some  questions  in  a 
polite  maimer,  and  then  dismissing  us.  In  due  time  we  went 
into  camp.  J.  J.  Peck,  Vandergrift,  and  I  were  assigned  to 
Company  I),  and  occupied  the  same  tent. 

As  the  State  of  New  Jersey  was  not  divided  into  congressional 
districts  at  that  time,  it  did  not  matter  in  what  part  of  the  State 
an  applicant  resided.  There  were  four  vacancies  in  the  State, 
and  they  were  tilled  by  appointing  Isaac  F.  Quinby.  Shotwell, 
Vandergrift.  and  myself.  Shotwell  an<l  Vandei'grift  left  the 
Academy. 

During  the  encampment   Senator  (i.   A\'.   Wall   came  to  the 


J  4  r\n,  Wai.'s. 

Point  on  a  visit,  and  had  all  four  of  us  call  to  see  liiiu.  Ho  ex- 
pressed inuch  interest  in  us,  and  ofave  us  <>"<'<>(1  ad\  ice.  as  lie  was 
personally  interested  in  our  success  and  welfare. 

1  carried  with  me  to  West  Point  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
John  F.  Kevnolds,  of  Pennsylvania,  who,  as  ofcneral  in  the  Un- 
ion Army,  was  killed  the  tii-st  day  at  (xcttysburo:.  In  his  death 
the  Federal  army  sustained  an  almost  irreparable  loss.  He  was 
a  soldier  of  marked  ability,  kind,  and,  above  all,  was  well  loved, 
and  the  hiuhest  position  in  the  service  awaited  him  without  his 
seekin<r  it.  He  was  ever  kind  to  me,  an<l  later  on.  duriuof  the 
^Mexican  war,  I  was  intimately  associated  with  him.  The  offi- 
cers of  Braof^-'s  Battery  of  Monterey  were  (I.  H.  Thomas,  J,  F. 
Keynolds,  and  myself,  and  Reynolds  and  I  occupied  the  same 
tent,  and  I  ne^er  knew  him  to  speak  an  unkind  word. 

Cadet  life  at  the  Academy  has  often  been  described,  and  it  is 
so  well  known  that  I  shall  pass  it  I)y  save  with  a  few  remarks. 
In  the  first  s(juad  of  cavalry  (Irant,  when  a  cadet  at  West  Point, 
rode  the  horse  that  could  jmnp  a  pole,  one  end  aofainst  the  wall 
about  seven  feet  high  while  the  other  end  was  held  by  a  soldier 
over  the  top  of  his  head.  In  the  second  squad  of  our  class  Cave 
J.  Couts  rode  the  same  animal.  I  never  envied  them  their  en- 
joyment, yet  I  rode  a  horse  (properly  named  Vixen)  that  would 
ofo  ai'ound  the  ring  at  a  speed  that  would  have  distanced  Tarn 
O'Shanter's  mare  when  she  crossed  the  bridge  of  Doon  and  lost 
her  tail. 

One  day  as  our  section  in  mathematics  was  marching  to  recita- 
tion hall  Frank  Gardner  produced  an  old  silver-cased  watch  a])out 
four  inches  in  diameter.  It,  as  a  curiosity,  was  passed  along 
from  one  boy  to  another  to  examine;  it  chanced  to  be  in  Grant's 
hands  as  we  reached  the  door  of  the  recitation  room,  and  he 
sli[)ped  it  under  his  coat  bosom  and  ))uttoned  it  up.  The  regular 
])i-ofessor  was  absent,  and  cadet  Zealous  B.  Tower  occupied  his 
chair.  He  sent  four  cadets  to  the  ))lackboards.  Grant  being  one. 
Grant  had  solved  his  problem  and  begun  his  demonstration, 
when  all  of  a  sudden  the  room  was  tilled  with  a  sound  not  unlike 
a  Chinese  gong.  All  looked  amazed,  and  Tower,  thinking  t!ie 
noise  was  in  the  hall,  ordered  the  door  closed,  and  that  only 
made  the  matter  worse.  (Jrant,  with  a  sober  countenance,  had 
the  floor  to  demonstrate.  When  the  racket  ceased  the  recita- 
tion j)roceeded.     Tower  had   no  idea   whence  the  noise  came. 


'(Jrix/i  y —  A' A'  yxofjjs — (i  i.'.t  .v  y.  15 

Gardner  lia<l  set  the  alarm  in  that  anti(iue  piece  of  funiitui'e  con- 
cealed in  (iianTs  hosoni,  and  il  went  oti.  Tower's  hewildei'inent 
and  (Jrant's  sohriety  allorded  ns  nmcli  anuiseinenl.  which  we 
could  not  nianitesl  until  we  i>:(tt  outdoors,  and  roared  with 
lau<2:htei-. 

Of  all  tlie  cadets  in  our  class.  I  believe  I.  F.  (^uinl)V  possessed 
the  most  })i'ofouiid  and  the  hria'htest  intellect.  It  was  scarcely 
necessary  for  him  to  study  a  mathematical  ])roposition.  One 
day.  thinkiuii'  he  woidd  not  he  '"called  up.""  he  had  not  opened 
the  text-hooU.  However,  Prof.  Malian  sent  him  to  the  black- 
])oard.  and  announced  a  proposition  for  him  to  demonstrate.  Li 
due  time  he  faced  the  Professor  ready  to  l)e.£:in.  He  demon- 
strated the  jH'oposition  in  an  orioinal  maimer,  frecjuently  inter- 
rupted by  the  Professor,  who  failed  to  follow  his  reasoning",  and 
would  not  admit  the  proof  to  l)e  conclusive.  Then  cadet  William 
F.  Raynolds  said:  ""Mr.  ]Mahan.  Mr.  (^uinby  is  riofht:  I  was  at- 
tentive, and  followed  him  all  through."  The  result  wasQuinby 
wrote  out  his  mode  of  demonstration  and  Raynolds  iianded  it  to 
the  Professor  next  day.  and  the  proof  was  conclusive.  Profess- 
ors are  not  inclined  to  have  students  deviate  from  the  text-books. 
One  day  Grant  failed  to  name  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac,  aries, 
taurus,  gemini,  etc.,  so  I  was  asked,  some  time  after,  to  re- 
peat them,  which  I  did  as  follows: 

The  Raiu,  the  Hull,  the  Hetuenly  Twins,  next   the  ('nib  the   liioii  shines, 

the  Virgin  and  the  Seales, 
The  Scor])i()n,   Areher.  and  the  (^c^it.  the  Man  wlio  carries  the  wateriuj? 

pot,  and  Fish  with  uiitterinu-  tails. 

and  was  told  to  translate  it  into  the  language  of  the  text-l)ook. 
Professors  were  not  dependent  on  patronage,  and  there  was  no 
marked  degrees  of  partiality  shown  any  cadets.  Prof.  AVier 
kept  one  of  my  paintings  in  water  colors  that  T  regi'etted  very 
much.  One  day,  years  after,  I  asked  J'resident  (irant  if  he  would 
not  have  the  War  Department  issue  an  order  to  have  it  returned 
to  me,  and  lie  said:  "'Certainly,  and  you  may  have  any  of  //ihte 
that  are  there.""  He  knew  I  well  understood  the  humor  in  the 
remark  about  his  paintings.  However,  I  neglected  to  write  to 
him  and  thus  secure  my  picture.  When  I  visited  the  Academy 
in  1881  I  sa\\  it  hanging  on  the  walls  (and  it  is  there  now). 
Those  that  I  left  at  my  mother's  in  Woodbury,  N.  J.,  were  con- 
fiscated and  sold  bv  the  Tidted  States  mai-shal.  and  this  woidd 


16  Two  WAJis. 

lia\  ('  sliiirc'd  tlio  same  falc  had  it  iK'en  there.  After  the  Confed- 
erate war  ended  some  of  these  piiintinirs  were  returned  to  me. 
Such  acts  of  kindness  I  appreciated. 

When  we  entered  the  first  class,  as  usual,  we  had  accorded  us 
the  privileire  of  purcliasinof  of  the  sutler.  Mr.  John  DeWitt, 
many  articles  that  were  denied  the  junior  classes.  ()wiii<r  to 
some  of  the  class  not  beinof  properly  treated,  the  followini!-  docu- 
ment was  drawn  u]).  to  wit: 

We.  tlif  uiulcrsigiu'd.  do  hereby  agree  that  we  will  ])urch;ise  nothing 
from  John  DeWitt  after  this  date,  exce])t  what  Ave  have  alicudy  ordered, 
or  whatever  is  al)solutely  necessary,  the  reason  being  sii))])osed  manifest 
to  every  one. 

John  H.  (i in; land.  J.  Jones  llEYNoLns, 

('.  J.  C'oiTs.  L.  Nkill. 

Isaac  F.  (^i  inbv.  John  Pheston  Johnston, 

N.  Kthn<;.  J.  J.  Peck. 

K.  S.  Ku'I.ey.  H.  K.  Seli'on. 

(iKORGE  STK\  ens.  A.   ("ROZET. 

(J.  Deshon.  F.  (Jakdnek. 

F.  T.  Dent.  L.  li.  Wooi>s. 

Henry  F.  (i.akk,  T.  L.  Chauboiknk. 

J.  H.  I'orrER.  E.  Howe. 

H.  Hazlett.  S.  (i.  French. 

Henry  M.  Jcdah.  J.  C  McFerren, 

W.  K.  Van  Hokkelen.  Rckis  Ingaees. 

(iEORGEC.  McClelland.  W.  H.  Franklin. 

U.  H.  Grant.  Joseph  Askordd. 
C.  G.  Merchant, 

West  Point,  April  1.').  1848. 

To  explain  tliis  hoyeoff  T  copy  a  letter  from  (Jen  Kufus  IniraUs 
to  Gen.  Isaac  F.  Quinby.  sent  to  me  by  the  latter  when  he  re- 
ceived it.     Quinby's  familiar  name  was  "Nykin." 

PoRiLAM).  ()RE(ioN.  Se))tember  1(),  1889. 

My  Dear  '•  Nijhiii :"  Your  letter  snri)risc(l  me  most  joyoiisl}'.  I  was 
thinking  of  you  constantly  and  lovingly.  Dn  not  give  up.  I.,et  us  live  to 
the  last  possible  hour.  I  lio))e  to  meet  you  tiiisfall — late  perhaps.  Icame 
here  two  years  ago  to  stay  tlu-ee  months,  and  here  1  ami  I  have  had  a 
"  monkey  and  j)arrot  time  of  it."  as  these  slips*  will  only  partially  disclose. 
Read  them  at  leisui-e.  H\it  I  am  now  booming  in  Inck.  .  .  .  and  I  expect 
to  save  some  money  out  of  the  wreck  foi"  myself  an<l  ])retty  wards.  But 
what  a  light  all  akuie  for  it ! 

I  am  robust,  never  better.     Habits  j)crfect:  fact,     ^^'hy  not  at  70?     Ditl 

*  New8pai)er  c-itttiiig-s. 


The  lioYcorr.  17 

we  not  cut  old  DeWitt  because  lie  caused  some  of  us  to  l»e  reported?  How- 
ls Hamilton?  Write  me.  dear  ■•Njdviii."'  Nail  yoiu-  Hag  high  up.  and  don't 
regard  dark  clouds. 

Very  affectionately,  RuFus. 

t4«Ti.  (^ninby,  Kocliester.  N.  Y. 

My  dear,  "rood  RufiisI  How  I  lecall  the  muiiy  luippy  days 
we  have  passed  too^ether!  My  love  for  you  was  like  unto  Jona- 
than's for  David,  and  you  have  gone  and  left  me,  <rone  to  your 
long  home.  Yet  I  can  see  you  now.  I  can  see  you  at  the  card 
table  having  "fun"  even  though  the  "time  be  4-  a.m.''  There 
always  was  mirth  when  Ingalls  was  present.  He  was  the  prince 
of  good  fellows;  ever  cheerful,  never  selfish,  full  of  quaint  hu- 
mor, and  was  wont  to  "set  the  table  in  a  roar." 

There  is  a  story  related  of  him  that  runs  in  this  way:  One 
night  in  the  spring  of  1S65  at  City  Point  Grant  and  stafi'  were 
sitting  around  their  camy^  tire.  Conversation  had  lapsed  into 
silence,  which  after  a  while  was  suddenly  broken  by  Grant  ex- 
claiming: •"Ingalls,  do  you  expect  to  take  that  yellow  dog  of 
yours  into  Richmond  with  you?"  "O  yes.  General,  he  belongs 
to  a  Jong  life  breed,''  was  Ingall's  sober  reply.  Silence  returned, 
but  there  were  sides  ready  to  burst  with  suppressed  laughter. 

Ingalls  possessed  a  brilliant  mind.  Grant  states  that,  had  it 
become  necessary  to  change  the  conunander  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  he  would  have  given  it  to  Ingalls.  AYhen  at  last  Lee's 
weak  lines  were  liroken  at  Petersburg,  and  certain  corps  com- 
manders said  they  could  not  pursue  Lee,  Ligalls  whisyjered  to 
Grant,  "If  you  do  not  order  an  inunediate  pursuit,  you  will  be 
a  ruined  man;  I'will  have  supplies  on  hand;"  and  the  army  was 
ordered  to  move  at  once  in  pnrsuit.  This  was  told  me  by  Gen. 
Frederick  Steele  in  ISC),"). 

But  to  return  to  the  boycott,  I  find  this  matter  in  the  news- 
papers of  the  day,  and  it  is  termed  the  oldest  ])Ovcott  known.  I 
have  copied  the  signatures  from  a  newspaper  article  to  correct 
some  of  the  errors  it  contained;  and  I  would  observe  that  I  can- 
not recall  any  member  of  our  i-lass  named  Joseph  Asfordd. 
About  the  signature  of  (ien.  Cirant  having  been  written  U.  H. 
Grant,  we  all  knew  that  Gen.  Harmer  obtained  him  the  appoint- 
ment, and  that  his  real  name  was  V .  H.  Grant,  but  the  appoint- 
ment called  for  U.  S.  (irant.  and  he  entered  the  Academy  as  IT. 
S.  (jrant,  and  was  usually  (•:illc(|   "' Tncle  Sam  Ch-ant."     Poor 

9 


18  Two  Wars. 

Stevens,  who  it  .'qipears  had  this  (lociiment  in  iiis  ])()sses- 
sion,  I  saw  (U-owikmI  in  tlio  waters  of  the  Rio  (irande  when  at 
the  head  of  a  squad  of  <h*airoons  he  atteni])ted  to  swim  the  river. 
'I'he  paper  was.  I  presume  as  stated,  sent  home  with  his  effects, 
and  the  ori,<rinal.  or  faesimiie.  is  now  hunu"  iij)  in  the  \\  i\v  De- 
paiiment  in  \\"ashin<j:t()n  CMtv.  Of  those  who  siofned  it.  there 
are  now  livins'  only  four.  Fatlier  Deshon.  J.  ,1.  Reynolds,  W. 
J>.  Franklin,  and  your  father,  who  is  now  writinii"  ti)is;  and  if  I 
Avrile  two  other  names,  (irens.  C  C.  Auijei' and  W.  V.  Raynolds, 
you  have  tlie  names  of  the  six  survivintr  meinl»ei's  of  oui'  class 
in  L893.* 

The  class  of  1848  is  remarkable  in  one  respect.  So  fai'  as  my 
investi«;:ations  have  extended,  every  one  of  the  class  livino^  in 
1861  entered  the  military  ser\  ice.  exce])t  Fatlier  Deslum:  all  ob- 
tained the  rank  of  ireneral  save  one.  In  no  class  did  all  the  irrad- 
uates  enter  the  s(>rvice.  nor  did  those  in  the  armies  obtain  uni- 
formly such  hiirh  i-ank  as  the  class  of  1848. 

When  the  encampment  ends,  and  the  cadets  ijo  into  cpiarters 
and  study  conunences.  the  fourth  class  is  formed  into  sections, 
taking  theii-  names  alphabetically.  If  they  desire  twelve  cadets 
in  the  tirst  section,  conuneiu-inij  at  the  A's  and  B"s  they  go  on 
down  imtil  twelve  ai'c  obtained;  the  second  and  other  sections 
are  foiiued  in  the  same  way;  study  and  recitation  begins,  and 
the  struggle  commences.  At  the  end  of  a  week  some  are  trans- 
ferred up  to  the  first  and  second  sections,  and  others  down;  and 
this  continues  until  every  one  settles  to  the  raid<  lie  meiits.  or 
at  least  to  the  rank  his  studies  entitle  him  to. 

High  class  standing  is  not  conclusi\'e  e\  idencc  of  preeminent 
ability  as  a  commander.  Of  all  the  positions  that  moi'tal  man 
has  occupied  on  earth,  that  of  a  great  captain  reipiires  a  com- 
bination of  /iir/rr  of  the  rare  gifts  that  (Jod  occasionally  ))estows 
on  man,  each  differing  in  character  and  (piality.  than  any  other 
profession.  In  him  they  must  '///  be  balanced  and  in  harmony. 
He  must  be  a  great  organizer,  and  a  skilled  adniinisti'atoi';  i)os- 
sessed  of  courage,  untiring  energy,  and  keep  the  one  great  pui-- 
])ose  in  \  iew,  crushing  every  obstacle  in  the  way  to  its  accom- 
plishment. His  powers  of  cond)ination  must  be  made  with 
mathematical  precision;  his  knowledge  of  the  country  correct, 

*August  31,  1898,  Kayiiolds  and  Auger  ai'e  now  at  rest,  and  four  re- 
main.    A|)ril.  181)1).  (Icii.  J.  J.  Reynolds  lia.s  i)as.s('d  ovcrllic  i-i\ci-. 


(in HAT  CoMMAMiHliS.  19 

and  at  a  glance  conipiclicnd  the  Held  of  action:  instant  to  detect 
an, error  made  by  his  antatjronist,  and  jn'ompt  to  avail  liinisclfof 
it;  intuitive  knowledtje  of  character,  acute  in  discoveiinu-  men's 
motives,  faultless  in  reasoninof  to  enaWh'  him  to  fathom  the  de- 
siofns  of  the  enemy,  and  maneuver  so  as  to  defeat  them.  Then 
comes  the  prestig^e  of  victory,  confidence  in  his  success.  h)ve  for 
his  person;  and  the  army  in  his  hands  is  as  obedient  to  him  as 
the  ship  to  her  helm,  and  will  hreast  the  tein])est,  he  it  never  so 
high.  From  Moses  down  history  does  not  mention  the  names 
of  as  many  great  soldiers,  for  whom  "the  stars  in  their  courses 
fought."  as  there  are  fingers  on  a  man's  hand,  and  the  stai'  of 
Austerlitz,  1  think,  guided  the  greatest  of  them  all. 

"He  who  ascends  to  mountain  tops  shall  liiid 

The  loftiest  peaks  mostwrappe<l  in  clouds  and  snow: 
He  who  snr))asses  or  sulxlues  mankind 

Must  look  down  on  the  hate  of  tiiosc  hclou." 

1  make  no  reference  to  heartlessuess  or  selfishness,  I  speak 
only  of  great  intellects  and  boundless  ambition  that  impels  the 
man  on,  on,  upward,  till  crowns  become  baubles,  and  kings  who 
wear  them  are  moved  on  the  world's  stage,  and  traded  oti'  like 
those  on  the  chessboard,  who  wouhl  sul)jugate  the  earth,  and 
then  sigh  for  other  worlds  to  conquer. 

There  is  a  moral  in  the  lives  of  some  of  the  most  renoAvned 
captains.  Joshua  had  trouble  with  his  tribes;  Alexander  died 
from  excess  of  drinking  in  Ba])ylon;  Hannibal,  living  in  exile, 
took  ])oisou  to  escape  being  surrendered  to  the  Romans;  Pom- 
pey,  thrice  a  consul,  thrice  honored  with  a  triumph,  master  of 
the  world,  was  assassinated  on  Egypt's  barren  strand  and  left 
without  a  handful  of  the  earth  (of  all  the  world  he  once  pos- 
sessed) to  cover  his  remains;  Ciesar  was  murdered  in  the  sen- 
ate chamber;  Cortez  died  in  poverty  in  Seville,  neglected  by  his 
sovereign;  Napoleon  ended  his  days  a  prisoner  in  exile  on  a  des- 
ert island;  '' Stonewall"  Jackson,  in  the  zenith  of  his  glory,  was 
accidentally  killed  ])y  his  own  tr()o|)s:  R.  K.  Lee  died,  after  de- 
clining many  honors,  the  president  of  a  university  in  Virginia: 
Grant,  more  fortunate,  became  President  of  the  I'nited  States. 
Yet  his  life  in  after  years  was  embittered  by  his  confidence  in 
dishonest  bankers,  which  troul)le.  pi-eving  on  his  mind,  shoii- 
ened  his  days. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Graduation — C-ommissioned  Brevet  Second  Lieutenant,  U.  S.  A. — Ordered 
to  Fort  Macon,  N.  C. — Goldsboro— Journey  to  Beaufort — Officers  at 
the  Fort — Life  in  a  Casemate — Stormy  Atlantic — That  Oyster  Supper- — 
The  Wandering  C"ot — Adieu  to  Fort  Macon — Journey  to  Washington — 
Lieuts.  George  H.  Thomas  and  John  Pope — Weldon,  N.  0. — Go  to 
West  Point — Prof.  Morse — First  Dispatch — Hope  Club,  Washington — 
Dinner  Given  by  Surgeon  General  Lawson — Appointed  Aid  to  Gen. 
Scott — British  Gold — Col.  S.  Churchill — Integrity  of  Old  Army  Officers 
— Leave  ^Vashington  for  Fort  McHeni-y — Society  in  Baltimore — C'hief 
Justice  Taney. 

IBELIEVK  it  was  on  tlic  !»th  day  of  June,  1843,  the  exam- 
inations ended,  we  hade  adieu  to  old  Fort  Putnam,  the  Crow's 
Nest,  the  Dunderburo',  the  halls,  the  lovers'  walk,  the  profess- 
ors, in  short  to  West  Point  and  all  that  it  contained,  and  took 
passage  on  a  steamer  on  the  ever-l)eautiful  Hudson  for  New  York 
City.  A  new  life  was  oi)ened  to  us,  the  wide  world  was  before 
us,  and  we  believed  we  were  equal  to  all  environments,  and  anx- 
ious for  the  strife;  and,  if  I  possess  a  correct  power  of  retro- 
spection, Ave  generally  had  a  higher  opinion  of  ourselves  then 
than  we  have  had  since  in  the  battle  of  life,  amid  joy  and  sorrow, 
hopes  and  disap])()intment,  praise  and  detraction,  sordid  avarice 
and  the  little  trust  in  the  sincerity  of  man.  In  the  course  of 
time  we  comprehended  that  "all  is  not  gold  that  glitters." 

In  a  day  or  two  we  began  to  separate  for  our  homes,  and  I 
bade  farewell  to  some  whose  faces  I  ne\er  saw  again.  When 
the  assignments  to  the  army  were  made,  in  rJuly  following,  I  was 
notihed  that  I  had  ])een  commissioned  a  l)revet  second  lieuten- 
ant in  the  United  States  army  and  assigned  to  Company  — , 
Third  Regiment  of  Artillery,  then  stationed  at  Fort  Macon,  N.  C. 

1  was  ordered  to  report  for  duty  by  the  first  day  of  October, 
liidding  good-by  to  all  at  home,  I  started  for  Beaufort,  N.  C, 
Fort  Macon  being  on  an  island  opposite  to  the  town.  I  traveled 
by  way  of  I>altimoi-e,  Washington,  Richmond,  and  Petersburg 
to  Goldsboro;  thence  by  stagecoach  to  New  Berne  and  Beau- 
fort. 

The  journey  was  made  without  incident  of  note.  On  the  train 
there  was  a  spruce  individual  innn  New  York  City  on  his  way 


OliDKHKD   TO    WaS/UNCTOX.  21 

to  Charleston.  Some  one  had  al;iniic(l  him  very  nuuli  altoiit 
"malaria,"  and  he  cautioned  me  aijfainst  iisin<):  in  the  moniinor 
until  after  the  sun  liad  dissipated  the  poisonous  vapors  of  the 
nijjht.  The  consequence  was  1  remained  in  hed  at  the  hotel  in 
Goldsl)oro,  waiting-  for  the  mist  to  rise  before  1  did,  until  I  heard 
the  staire  horn  calling'  for  passeng-ers,  and  T  came  near  getting 
no  breakfast.  But  the  driver  was  one  of  those  happy-go-easy 
fellows,  Avho  said:  "Tam  in  no  haste;  go  and  get  your  T)r(Mik- 
fast." 

That  New  York  man  iiad  alarmed  me  to  such  a  degree  that 
when  a  courtly  f)ld  gentleman  came  to  the  stage  door  with  a  large 
basket  of  scupi)ern()ng  grapes  and  recpiested  me  to  take  charge 
of  them  to  Beaufort,  bidding  me  partake  of  them  bountifully  by 
the  way,  I  thought  death  was  concealed  in  that  ))asket  as  the  asp 
was  in  the  one  given  to  Cleopatra.  I  was  the  only  passenger. 
After  a  while  I  consulted  the  driver,  who  was  on  the  box  out- 
side, as  to  the  danger  of  eating  grapes  in  that  bilious  country, 
and  he  assured  me  there  was  none.  So  timidly  I  took  one  and 
found  it  "  was  good  for  food"  like  the  apple  in  the  garden  of 
Eden,  and  in  spite  of  fears  I  partook  of  them  freely. 

When  T  arrived  in  Beaufort  I  found  there  to  meet  me  Lieut. 
C.  Q.  Tompkins,  and  I  sailed  with  him  over  to  the  fort.  One 
company  constituted  the  garrison.  The  officers  were  Capt.  W. 
Wall,  Ijieuts.  Tompkins  and  E.  O.  C.  Ord,  Dr.  Glenn,  and  Capt. 
J.  H.  Trapier,  engineer  officer.  The  company  was  composed  of 
old  soldiers  and  reipiired  but  little  drilling,  and  so  our  duties 
were  light.  I  spent  most  of  my  time  sailing  on  the  sound  and 
fishing.  The  waters  teemed  with  tish,  and  both  game  and  oys- 
ters were  a])undant. 

There  had  been  a  report  that  the  company  would  soon  be  or- 
dered to  Fort  Mcllenry,  Baltimore,  and  all  were  anxious  to 
leave  the  place,  for  they  had  been  stationed  thei'c  over  two  years. 

As  time  passed  on  they  expected  by  every  mail  the  order  for 
them  to  leave,  but  it  came  not.  However,  one  evening  toward 
the  close  of  Novend)er  when  we  were  enjoying  a  good  supper, 
Mingo,  the  best  of  old  colored  servants,  announced  the  arrival 
of  the  day's  mail,  and  placed  all  the  letters  before  Capt.  Wall. 
Opening  a  ten-inch  ))uff'  envelope  from  the  War  Department,  he 
took  therefrom  a  letter,  and  as  he  glanced  over  it  a  smile  played 
over  his  countenance,  observed  by  all.     Ord  exclaimed:  "That 


22  Viro  ]r.ih's. 

is  the  ordcf  for  Fori  McI  Irm-y! ""  1  )r.  (Ilcmi  Ix't  wine  willi  Ord 
tlial  it  was  not:  and  while  the  l>ets  were  Ix'inir  arranjred  C'a])t. 
^^'all  handed  th(>  letter  to  me.  I  read  it  with  surprise:  it  was  aii 
order  for  nie  to  i)rocee<l  to  W'ashiniilon  City  and  i-eport  to  the 
lioard  })rei)arino:  the  artillery  taeties.  composed  of  MaJ.  John 
Munroe.  ("apts.  Fi-aneis  Taylor  and  Robert  Anderson.  There 
was  dejeetioi)  of  spii-its  on  the  faces  of  all  present:  luit  Ord  rose 
with  the  occasion,  and  ordered  .Min^o  to  have  tiiree  busliels  of 
oysters  in  the  shell  ])repare(l.  and  to  hrinir  <>n  the  accompani- 
ments. I  left  them  late  at  the  tahle  and  retired  to  my  casemate 
room,  and  1  avow  to  this  day  tiiat  some  in\isi))lc  s})irit  seemed 
to  move  my  cot  ai'oimd  the  room,  liound  and  I'ound  it  went.  I 
leaned  airainst  the  taMe  in  the  middle  of  the  room  and  enjoyed 
the  circus  for  a  while,  hut  the  cot  would  not  o'row  weary.  After 
some  vaiu  attem})ts  I  cauixht  it  as  it  passed  by,  threw  myself  on 
it,  the  liofht  burned  dim.  and  I  fell  asleep. 

But  O  the  \i\id  recollections  of  the  wild,  incoherent  di<'ams 
of  that  ni^'lit,  the  achinsi"  head  and  (luickened  i)ulse.  Childish 
scenes  arose.  I  was  at  the  home  of  my  childhood.  I  was  cross- 
inir  the  Delaware  river  on  the  ice,  as  in  days  of  yore,  and  was 
carried  away  on  a  tloatinij  cake.  It  was  dark,  and  no  one  heard 
me  cry  for  help.  Then  I  was  at  a  hotel,  and  a  irirl,  once  so  love- 
ly, on  whom  I  la\  ished  all  the  love  of  a  child,  came  in  to  dine. 
Slie  was  old,  iia'ly.  and  chano;ed,  and  I  ijazed  on  her  in  horror. 
Next  I  was  in  command  of  a  fort  on  the  banks  of  a  river,  and 
British  ships  of  war  were  comin<>:  up:  they  opened  tire,  and  I 
ortlered  our  o-iuis  to  re})ly,  and  not  one  could  be  fired;  in  vain  the 
ofunners  worked  while  the  fleet  passed  by,  and  I  cried  in  ao^ony 
of  mind.  Like  a  kaleidoscoi)e  the  vision  chan<>-ed.  I  became  an 
essence  of  the  Creatoi'  of  the  uni\('rse.  and  the  universe  was 
heaven.  A  si)irit  robed  in  white  was  w  ith  me.  (Iravitation 
was  destroyed,  and  we  moNcd  w  ith  the  ra])idity  of  thouofht,  past 
the  moon,  past  the  siui.  past  the  stars.  W'hithei-  I  wished 
we  went.  Brijrlit  suns  were  on  all  sides.  al>o\e  and  below,  I'oll- 
in^  in  silence  in  the  inlinite  etheical  spaces  which  had  no  center 
and  were  without  bounds.  When  I  asked  what  })ower  held  all 
these  worlds  in  a  relative  position  no  answer  came.  1  was  alone! 
Phantoms  of  a  burninjr  brain!  1  was  at  West  Point  attain,  in 
Kosciusko's  garden,  walkin<j:  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  1 
saw  a  cave  and  entered  it,  and  immediateh'  a  rock  weiffhiuo^  tons 


At  Fo/.'T  Macox.  23 

dropped  (low  11  and  closed  the  cut iMiice.  A  [)assag^e  led  lo  an- 
other chaml)er,  and  ai^ain  eanie  a  vast  rock  and  closed  it.  I  was 
now  in  darkness  in  a  vaulted  ca\(',  sliut  in  from  the  world  and 
all  the  worlds  that  were  shown  me.  As  T  sat  down  on  a  rock  in 
despair,  a  ray  of  li»j:ht  was  seen  throii<rh  a  cre\  ice  in  the  rocks. 
Hope  came  to  my  relief.  I'he  passa^re  was  small.  Aftei-  I  had 
got  partly  thi'oii<rh,  my  i>ody.  in  fright,  ])egan  to  swell,  and  I 
could  neither  go  on  nor  get  hack.  IJreathing  had  nearly  ceased, 
and  I  could  not  cry  foi"  help,  oi'  moxc  hand  or  foot. 

From  this  condition  I  was  awakened.  The  vision  hore  away, 
and  I  found  myself  lying  on  my  cot,  and  an  old  hag  that  had  as- 
sumed the  form  of  a  peculiar  cat  was  standing  on  me  holding  me 
down  on  my  hack.  Iler  body  was  a  part  of  a  broomstick;  her 
legs  were  rounds  of  a  chair  with  wire  hinges  at  the  joints;  her 
head  was  like  three  sticks  forming  a  triangle,  with  ends  project- 
ing foi-  ears.  Her  countenance  was  like  a  cat's.  Her  forefeet 
were  on  my  chest  pressing  it  down  so  that  Tc-ould  scarcely  breathe, 
while  her  sa\  age  eyes  glowed  with  rage  in  my  face.  I  was  awake 
and  remembered  that  circulation  of  the  blood  would  relieve  me 
from  this  horril)le  nightmai-e.  I  gave  my  body  a  sudden  turn, 
the  blood  rushed  through  my  veins,  the  witch  Hew  through  the 
window,  and  the  day  was  dawning.  My  head  Avas  swimming 
like  a  buoy  on  the  water. 

The  elixirs  of  Cagliostro,  the  preparations  of  Paracelsus,  the 
use  of  JkisJi'isIi  of  the  Mohannnedans,  never  produced  \'isions  or 
dreams  more  strange  and  ))ainful  than  did  that,  my  tirst  and  un- 
willing trial  of  old  "Monongahela." 

I  drew  a  moral  fr(»m  my  experience  on  that  occasion,  and  have 
never  forgotten  it.      May  you  draw  a  good  one  from  it  also! 

The  next  morning  the  otHcers  accompanied  me  to  the  landing. 
Bidding  them  good-by.  I  got  in  the  boat  and  sailed  over  to  Beau- 
fort. ]My  stay  at  Fort  Macon  was  pleasant,  and  I  was  not  over- 
joyed to  leave  the  place.  I  could  lie  on  that  treachei'ous  cot  and 
})e  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  ever-nuu-nuu-ing  sea.  or  awakened  by 
the  thundeiing  wa\es  of  the  stormy  Atlantic  that  seemed  to 
make  the  island  trend)le  at  the  shock;  and  1  could  tell  at  night 
by  the  lightning's  "i-ed  glare"  and  the  breaker's  roar  when  a 
.storm  was  moving  on  over  the  (Julf  Stream. 

The  casemate  used  for  a  magazine  adjoined  mine,  and  in  it 
were  stored  many  thousand  pounds  of  powder,  and  the  lightning 


24  Tfvo  Wars. 

rods  did  not  (iiiict  all  my  tears  wIkmi  those  violent  thunderstorms 
passed  over  the  island.  Alonir  tiie  shore  near  C'ape  Lookout 
these  violent  winds  had  buried  ]ar«re  pine  t'oi-ests  in  sand  rid«:es. 

Well.  I  journeyed  back  to  New  Berne  alone  in  the  same  Con- 
cord stairecoach  I  came  in,  and  remained  thei'e  all  ni<rht. 

I  now  beffan  to  ol)serve  the  ditt'erenee  in  manners,  customs, 
and  deportment  of  the  Southern  people  from  the  people  in  the 
North.  T  shall  refer  to  this,  perha))s,  farther  on.  I  noticed  that 
the  outer  door  to  the  o^eneral  louugint>;  room  was  never  shut. 
The  weather  was  cold;  servants  piled  on  the  hearth  pine  wood 
in  abundance,  till  the  llames  roared  up  the  chinmey;  men  came 
in  and  men  went  out,  and  never  a  door  was  closed. 

After  supper  the  landlord  drew  up  a  chair  near  mine,  close 
by  the  bright  tire,  and  we  entered  into  a  conversation  about  the 
people  and  the  surrounding  country. 

A  negro  servant  came  in  to  replace  the  fuel  and  departed,  and 
I  availed  myself  of  the  occasion  to  ask  the  landlord  for  what  pur- 
pose doors  were  made,  and  he  was  amazed  at  my  want  of  infor- 
mation on  such  common  affairs.  I  think  I  demonstrated  to  him 
that  to  keep  the  doors  closed  would  he  economy  in  fuel  and  com- 
fort to  his  guests.  He  must  have  been  convinced,  for  in  the 
morning  I  found  the  servants  closed  the  doors  when  passing  in 
and  out.  This  custom  of  open  doors  prevailed  generally  in 
the  South.  When  I  boarded  the  train  at  Goldsboro,  among  the 
passengers  were  two  othcers  that  were  at  the  Academy  whilst  I 
was  there,  George  H.  Thomas  and  John  Pope.  As  Thomas  was 
on  a  visit  to  his  home  in  Southampton  County,  Va.,  on  the  line 
of  the  Weldon  and  Norfolk  railroad,  he  persuaded  Pope  and 
myself  to  go  on  with  him  and  take  the  steamer  from  Ports- 
mouth to  Baltimore  instead  of  the  route  by  Richmond;  and  so 
we  remained  all  night  in  Weldon.  The  weather  was  cold  and 
the  ground  covered  with  snow,  and  the  accommodations  miser- 
able. I  little  thought  then  that  I  would  be  destined,  nineteen 
years  after,  to  sleep  there  again  with  snow  on  the  ground  and  a 
tent  for  shelter,  but  so  it  was.  On  the  way  to  Norfolk  the  rails 
were  covered  wdth  frost  and  the  driving  wheels  slipped  so  that 
we  all  had  to  get  out  the  cars  and  hel})  push  the  train  over  a 
slight  ascent  to  a  bridge.  There  was  not  nuich  comfort  on  the 
ti'ains  in  those  days. 

On  reaching  ^^^ashington  I  reported  to  the  Board  of  Artillery. 


TnK  FiNST  D/s/'.rrrii.  25 

They  liaiulcd  to  iiic  the  muiiusci-ii)! of  work  to  hv  |)ul»lisli('(l.  ;m<l 
directed  nie  .o  prepare  (lr:i\viii<rs  of  horses,  liariiess,  jfims,  jjfun 
carria<j:es,  and  all  the  inaneuvers  of  tlie  hatlery  to  he  ilhistiatc^d 
by  plates. 

I  was  eiiijfaired  in  the  ))erfoi'iiianee  of  this  duty  from  the  early 
part  of  I)eceiiil)er,  1S4;5,  to  Noveiiiher  L2,  1844.  When  the 
drawinofs  wei-e  all  linished.  theie  were  added  drawino^s  of  all 
heavy  <runs.  their  earria^'es,  iinplenients,  etc.,  and  T  am  pleased  to 
state  that  the  lioard,  aftei*  conn)aiini2:  them  with  the  manusei'ipt, 
accepted  them  without  the  alteration  of  a  line,  letter,  or  dot. 

I  went  to  West  Point  to  make  the  drawinjrs  for  the  horse  ar- 
tillery. During  the  latter  part  of  my  stay  there  J  occupied  a 
room  at  Mrs.  Kinsley's.  Lieut.  John  Newton,  W.  S.  Rosecrans, 
William  Gilham,  and  AV.  K.  Johnston  also  had  (piarters  there. 
The}^  were  on  duty  as  assistant  professors  in  the  Academy. 
From  West  Point  I  returned  to  Washino^tou  and  made  the  plates 
of  the  hea\y  artillei'V.  Thence  in  September  I  went  to  meet  the 
Board  at  Old  Point  C'omfort.  Gen.  John  B.  Wall)acli  was  in 
command  of  the  post,  a  jjallant  old  German  who  entered  our 
army  in  1799.  A  Iar<je  number  of  officers  were  on  duty  there. 
The  hotel  was  tilled  with  beauty  and  fashion;  and,  as  1  had 
nothing  special  to  do,  I  was  free  to  join  in  the  amusements  the 
locality  afforded.  From  Old  Point  Comfort  I  returned  to  Wash- 
ington early  in  November,  1844.  •  During  the  summer  of  this 
year,  and  whilst  the  Democratic  convention  was  in  session  in 
Baltimore.  Prof.  Morse  invited  Lieut.  I.  F.  Quin1)y  and  me  to 
ride  with  him  to  the  capital  to  test  the  telegraph  line  built  from 
Washington  to  Baltimore  by  act  of  Congress.  On  arriving  at 
the  caj)ital  the  Professor  signaled  to  the  operator  in  Baltimore, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  following  message  was  received  by  him: 

Convention  not  in  session  now.  Polk  stock  in  the  ascendency.  Doug- 
lass now  addressing  the  people. 

Or  words  to  that  effect;  and  this  was  theffrst  telegram  ever  sent 
in  the  United  States.  I  have  seen  it  stated  that  the  first  mes- 
sage annouiKied  the  nomination.  That  must  be  an  error,  because 
the  one  he  received  was  before  the  nomination  had  been  made.* 

*It  is  also  reported  that  the  first  message  over  the  line,  sent  by  a  young 
lady,  vvas:  "What  hath  God  MTought!"  The  Professor  did  not  mention 
this,  and  this  dispatch  was  sent  over  the  ocean  cable  years  later. 


26  Tno  U'ji.'s. 

Fioui  ^\'asllillL'■l<»ll  I  was  ordci'cd  to  join  my  coinpaiiy  at  Fort 
Mcllciny.  Tlial  order  lo  leave  Fort  Maeoii.  and  about  wliicli 
so  imicli  anxiety  was  manifested  when  I  left  tliere.  was  after- 
wards i'ei'ei\ cd  and  the  company  mo\ cd  accoidiniiiy.  Maj.  Sam- 
uel RiniTiTold  was  in  eommand  of  the  post,  and  amona'  the  offi- 
cers were  Randolph  Hidirely.  ^^  .  II.  Sho\(']-.  Al»ner  Douhleday, 
E.  ().  C  ()i<l.  and  (i.  W.  Aycrs.  and  V.  (i.  T.  l>eauregrard  was 
the  enofineer  ofticer. 

Foi't  McHenrv.  at  this  time,  was  considei'ed  one  of  the  most 
desii'ahle  posts  to  he  stationed  at  in  the  whole  country. 

Ourina"  the  autunm  and  wintei'  there  was  a  irreat  deal  of  ffaye- 
ty  in  llaltimore.  and  some  of  the  officers  of  the  post  were  iren- 
erally  at  the  halls  and  parties  <riven.  The  ladles  of  Baltimoi'e 
from  their  aiu-estors  inherited  beauty;  and  from  their  environ- 
ments naturally  ac({uired  I'etii'ina'  maimers,  low  and  sweet  voices, 
ofentleness.  attracti\e  Sfi'tiee;  and.  conscious  from  childhood  of 
their  social  ])osition.  they  were  s|)riofhtly.  exhibited  hauteur  to 
none,  and  moved  in  the  mazy  dance  so  courtly,  so  slow,  and 
"' courtesied  with  a  irrace  that  belonofed  to  an  ai^o  in  the  lon^, 
lonof  a^ifo." 

On  one  occasion  a  masked  and  fancy  dress  ba.ll  was  given  l>y 
a  gentleman  with  whom  1  was  not  accjuainted.  to  which  many  of 
the  61ite  of  the  city  were  invited.  A  description  of  that  ball 
which  was  promptly  ])ublished  in  the  New  York  y/c/v/A/ created 
much  excitement.  The  writer,  not  content  with  describing 
dresses  and  characters  re})resented,  touched  truthfully  some  ten- 
der points  peculiar  to  each  individual.  Tliere  were  many  ac- 
cused of  the  authorshi}).  and  all  deined  it.  Rewards  were  ottered 
for  the  discovery  of  the  writer.  No  one  thouglit  it  could  have 
been  done  by  any  person  not  present  at  the  ball.  l»ut  so  it  was. 
Only  two  persons  could  name  the  wi-iter. 

I  went  with  him,  about  two  days  aftei-  the  publication,  the 
round  of  moi'ning  calls,  and  we  had  nuich  enjoyment  at  the  crit 
icisms  made  by  the  ladies.  Many  were  indignant:  others  enjoyed 
it.  Some  ('((uivocal  ex])i'essions  had  been  used  in  reference  to 
one  young  lady.  She  Hrst  shed  teai's:  then,  smiling.  sai<i:  '•A\'ell, 
I  would  I'athci'  l)e  described  as  it  was  written  than  not  to  l)e 
mentioned  al  all.""  The  writer  was  a  })romising  young  lawyei-, 
long  since  in  his  grave.  I  have  not  seen  the  other  contidant 
since  the  war.      lie  was  in  the  Confederate  army. 


/.v  liAi/n.yoi.'E.  27 

OiR'  of  the  most  Mci'omplislicd  yoiiiiir  ladies  in  IJall  iiiioic  wjis 
MissC'liarlotlc  K.  She  Ix'loiiijfcd  to  no  "cii-clc."  Imt  was  Urlovcd 
l)y  all.  Aiiioui:-  her  admircisat  that  time  were  ( 'iicvalici-  Iliilsc- 
man,  ('h(ir(i>  </' .[p'nirsioy  Austi'ia,  Lieut.  ()rd.  and  myself,  'i'wo 
years  after,  on  llie  hanks  of  the  KioCirande,  hefore  a  liattle  that 
was  ine\itahle.  I  sat  hy  a  tire  and  committed  to  the  tlames  letters 
that  I  did  not  intend  should  he  read  hy  any  one.  and,  heini^' alone, 
perehanee  some  were  moistened  hy  a  teai-. 

My  father  was  in  polities  a  Whi«r,  and  tirndy  helieved  den. 
Jackson  deserved  to  l)e  shot  for  hano^ing'  Arhmthnot  and  .\m- 
])riester  when  he  took  possession  of  Florida;  and  he  thouiiht 
Roofer  V>.  Taney  no  hetter  than  a  rohher  l)eeause  he  i-emoved  the 
2:overnment  deposits  from  the  Tnited  States  Bank.  Now  among 
the  ])leasant  families  that  I  visited  at  this  time  in  Baltimore  was 
that  of  Chief  flustiee  Taney,  a  man  so  kind,  o'entle  in  manner, 
so  plain  and  unpretending  at  his  home,  that  I  wondered  to  what 
extent  a  \enal  party  press  would  villify  a  pure  and  honest  man 
who  faithfully  interpreted  the  law.* 

*In  the  celebrated  Dred-Scott  case  (see  Howard's  "Supreme  Court  Re- 
ports," Vol.  XIX.,  page 404)  you  will  iiiid  tliat  Justice  Taney,  in  descrihing 
the  condition  of  the  negi'o  more  than  a  hundred  years  before  the  Dcclarat  ion 
of  Independence,  said:  "It  is  difficult  at  this  day  (1856)  to  realize  thcsmtc 
of  public  opinion  in  relation  to  that  unfortunate  race  which  prevailed  in 
the  civilized  portions  of  the  world  at  tiic  time  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, and  wiicn  the  ('onstitution  of  the  United  States  was  framed  and 
adopted.  .  .  .  'I'hcy  liad.  for  more  tiian  a  century  lu'fore,  been  regard- 
ed as  a  being  of  an  inferior  order,  and  altogerher  unfit  to  a.ssociate  witli 
the  wdiite  race,  either  in  social  or  political  relations;  and  so  far  inferior 
that  they  had  no  rights  which  tiic  white  man  was  bouiul  to  respect:  and 
that  the  negro  might  justly  and  l:iw  fully  Ijc  reduced  to  slavery  for  iiis 
benefit.  He  was  ))ouglit  and  sold,  and  treated  as  an  ordinaiw  aiMicle  of 
merchandise  and  tratiic  whenevei-  a  i)rotit  could  be  made  l)y  it.  Tiie  opin- 
ion was.  nt  t!i(U  tiine.  fixed  and  uuivei-sal  in  the  ci\ili/.ed  poi-rion.s  of  tiie 
white  race." 

The  above  is  merely  a  liistoi-ical  fact  as  regards  tiic  status  of  tlie  negra 
about  two  hiDulrcd  years  before  tlie  judge  renderi'd  his  decision.  .\iid  now 
behold:  l^n- political  party  i)urposes:  l)y  the  abolitionists;  from  the  |)ul- 
pit:  i)y  college  pi-ofessors;  by  all  who  have  hated  the  Soutli,  it  is  to  this 
day  tortm-cd  into  a  (/rcisioii  made  by  ( 'hief  Justice  Roger  B.  'I'auey.  which 
is  not  true.  Furthermore,  and  liefoic  this  case  was  in  court,  Judge  'i'aney 
had  manumitted  his  own.  iniierited.  slaves:  and  as  a  lawyer  had  defemh-d 
a  man  in  court  for  pul)liely  uttering  al)olition  .M'Utimcnts.  in  fact  he  i-e- 
garded  slavery  as  an  evil,  and  jjroclaimed  it  by  deeds.  (See  ••.Ameiiemi 
Authors"  (Juild  Hulletin  •"  for  Ajjril.  1H98.) 


28  Two  YVars. 

While  ill  Wasliiiiiiton  in  JS-t-i  I  made  my  ho  iie  at  the  ""Hope 
Clul),"  a  cluh  composed  mainly  of  iinmarriod  army  officers  per- 
manently stationed,  or  at  least  on  duty  there.  (Jen.  (leorge 
Gibson,  Commissary  General,  was  the  president  of  the  club.  He 
was  one  of  the  l)est  men  T  ever  met;  kind  and  considerate  of  the 
feelings  of  every  one,  a  gentleman  of  the  t)lden  time,  a  man  of 
patience  and  uii ruffled  temper.  He  and  Judge  Bibb,  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury,  would  go  to  the  long  bridge  and  tish  all  day  for  a 
minnow,  or  even  a  nibble.  Capt.  J.  C.  Casey  was  the  Treasurer. 
He  was  a  very  entertaining  man,  and  had  more  influence  with 
the  Seminole  Indians  than  any  one  connected  with  the  govern- 
ment. He  Avas  a  commissary,  and  the}"  had  abiding  faith  in  him 
because,  as  they  said,  "  he  told  them  no  lies." 

One  day  on  taking  my  seat  at  dinner  I  turned  uj)  my  plate 
and  found  under  it  a  note  from  Surgeon  General  Thomas  Law- 
ton  inviting  me  in  the  evening  to  dine  with  him.  As  I  saw  no 
one  else  had  an  invitation,  and  I  was  only  a  lieutenant,  I  was 
not  inclined  to  go  alone,  but  Gen.  Gibson,  Casey,  and  others 
told  me  to  go  by  all  means.  At  this  time  Lieut.  Thomas  Wil- 
liams came  in  and  found  an  invitation  also,  and  it  was  decided 
we  would  go. 

The  Doctor  had  a  dinner  of  thirteen  courses,  pro\'ided  by  the 
prince  of  restaurant  catei-ers.  The  wines  were  old  and  rare. 
The  guests  were  (xen.  Scott,  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Army; 
Col.  Sylvester  Churchill,  Inspector  General;  Lieut.  Williams, 
and  myself.  Scott,  Churchill,  and  the  Doctor  discussed  the  war 
of  1812  on  the  Canadian  line,  and  the  battles  fought  there;  told 
how  once  they  had  so  many  prisoners  and  so  few  to  guard  them 
that  they  cut  the  suspenders  of  the  prisoners  to  prevent  their  es- 
cape so  easily,  as  it  required  one  hand  to  hold  their  breeches  up. 
I  remember  another  that  shows  there  must  have  been  a  good  feel- 
ing between  the  officers  on  either  side.  .Maj.  Ix)max,  for  some 
purpose,  was  sent  to  the  British  camp;  and  when  he  returned  he 
was  eagerly  asked  what  news  he  had.  "News!  why  there  is 
British  gold,  yes,  British  gold  in  this  camp."  That  seemed  to 
imply  treason,  and  an  explanation  was  demanded,  and  it  was 
given  when  Lomax  from  his  pockets  covered  the  table  with  Eng- 
lish sovereigns.  He  had  been  entertained  cordially  by  the  Brit- 
ish officers.  The  dinner  did  not  end  until  midnight.  Gen.  Scott 
drank  sherry  only,  except  when  sampling  some  choice  wines  that 


Pleasant  Rkcollkctioxs.  29" 

the  Doctor  l>i<l  the  txillci-  open.-   Col.  ("hiiicliill  \v;is  in  line  liii- 
nior.  and  partly 

()'('i-:r  llic  ills  ((■  life  xictorioiis. 

At  last  the  lioiii'  anixcd  t(»  Icmnc:  tlicii  (icn.  Scott,  iaisiii<)r 
himself  to  his  full  lieiirht,  and  either  impressed  with  tlie  impor- 
tance of  the  occasion,  or  thinkinir  perhaps  he  was  airain  at  Lun- 
dy's  Lane,  "ordered  his  own  aid.  Lieut.  Williams,  to  con(hict 
Col.  Churchill  to  his  home,  declarinir  it  was  not  prudent  for  him 
to  venture  in  the  streets  unprotected."  Then  turninir  to  me  with 
much  dignity,  he  announced:  "And  I  ap|)oint  Lieut.  Fi-eneh  a 
special  aid  to  accompany  me  to  my  residence." 

The  streets  were  deserted  and  silent,  and  the  walk  short.  '1  ak- 
ing  his  arm,  I  went  with  him  to  liis  home,  rang  the  bell,  and  his 
servant  met  him  at  the  door,  and  there  my  services  as  aid  ter- 
minated. In  after  days  and  after  years  he  was  ever  consider- 
ate and  kind  to  me.  The  conqueror  lives,  but  the  man' is  dead. 
But  ()  how  pleasant  the  recollection  of  the  times  when  those  ])ure 
and  knightly  men  with  generous  hearts,  untouched  hy  avarice, 
never  closed  the  "  door  of  mercy  on  mankind."  Such  men  were 
Gens.  Scott,  Jesup,  Gibson,  Towson,  Lawson,  Totten,  Abert, 
Cooper,  and  others.  Then  men  served  God  and  their  country 
rather  than  mammon.  The  maddening,  wild,  and  frantic  rush 
for  wealth  was  unknown,  and  life  was  one  of  enjoyment  without 
extravagance. 


CllAPTEll  III. 

Death  of  Hon.  A.  P.  Upshur.  Secretary  of  State — Calhoun  Appointed — 
Treaty  of  Annexation  of  Texas — Declaration  of  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts— Texas  Accepts  the  Kesohition  of  Annexation — Formation  of  Army 
of  Occupation — Transferred  to  Maj.  S.  Ringgold's  Battery  of  Horse  Ar- 
tillei'y — Officers  Sail  for  Aransas  Pass — Th*^  Wicked  Captain — Becalmed 
— Cross  Bahama  Banks — Key  West — Out  of  Drinking  Water — Fare  on 
Board  Ship — Storm — Aransas  Pass— St.  Jose^^h's  Island — Maj.  lling- 
gokl's  Cook — Embark  for  Corpus  Christi — (ianie  and  Fish — Horse  Ra- 
cing—White Horse  of  the  Prairies — Trip  to  San  Antonio — The  Town — 
Incidents  of  the  Trip. 

AT  this  time  there  was  ])einof  discussed  by  the  pul)lic  a  mat- 
ter that  was  destined  soon  to  put  an  end  to  the  pleasant 
life  we  Mere  leading  here. 

After  the  death  of  Abel  P.  Fpshnr,  Secretary  of  State.  John 
C.  Calhoun  was  appointed  to  till  the  vacancy,  and  the  question 
of  the  admission  of  Texas  as  a  State  was  discussed,  and  on  the 
12th  of  April  a  treaty  of  annexation  was  signed  by  him;  and  it 
Avas  rejected  by  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  So  bitter  was 
the  feeling  that,  notwithstanding  the  pm'chase  of  Louisiana 
and  Florida  |aiid  Alaska  since],  jMassachusetts,  through  her  Leg- 
islature, declared  that  Congress  had  no  right  or  power  to  admit 
a  foreign  State  or  Territory  into  the  Union;  and  that  if  Texas 
was  admitted  it  irould  not  hi^  huid'nnj  on  her.  By  this  Massa- 
chusetts made  a  declaration  which  the  State  could  not  carry  out 
without  secedliKi  from  the  Union,  yet  she  seceded  not. 

Soon  after  the  inaugm-ation  of  Mr.  Polk  as  President  a  reso- 
lution for  annexation  was  passed  by  Congress,  and  on  June  28, 
18+5.  Texas  accej)ted  the  resoluticm.  and  became  a  State  in  the 
Union  December  21*. 

It  became  evident  now.  when  'i'e.xas  accepted  the  resolution, 
that  the  g<»\  ('riinicnt  would  l>e  obliged  to  defend  the  new  State 
from  invasion  l>y  Mexico,  and  the  army  otHcers  were  anxious  to 
go  to  the  frontier  to  defend  the  boundary  of  the  country.  To 
meet  the  threats  of  Mexico,  an  army  of  occupaticm  was  gradual- 
ly formed  at  Corpus  Christi.  When  the  order  came  for  Maj. 
Ringgold's  battery  of  hoi-se  ai'tillery  to  be  in  readiness  to  move, 
and  tiie  Adjutant  (Tcneral  came  over  to  Fort  McIIenry  to  trans- 


Ord's  Boom e has g.  81 

f(M' some  of  ("apt.  Wall's  men  to  Kiiiir^rold's  (•(»iiij)any.  I  asked 
Kinofgold  if  he  wished  lue  to  <2:o  with  him.  'Iakin<i-  me  l>y  the 
hand,  he  exehumed.  "My  dear  feHow,  yes;*"  and.  turnin<r  to  the 
Adjutant  General,  he  asked  him  lo  make  ihe  transfer  and  'twas 
done,  and  I  made  pfepaiations  to  lea\e. 

The  ship  Ileiinann  was  chai-tei-ed,  and  the  hoises.  to  tlie 
number  of  one  hmidi-ed  and  lifly,  were  })ut  on  t)oard  the  ship 
between  deeks,  in  temporary  stalls,  seeui-ed  by  broad  can \ as 
bands  under  theii-  bodies  to  ])revent  them  from  beinir  thrown 
from  theii'  feet  l>y  the  motion  of  the  vessel.  The  company  otti- 
eers  were  Kini>'<i'old,  Kidirely.  Shover,  Fremont,  and  myself. 
The  otHeers  left  in  the  fort  were  Wall,  Tom])kins.  and  Ord. 
After  we  left,  this  company  was  ordered  to  Califoinia.  ^\'.  T. 
Siierman  was  with  it:  and  they  wei'e  (juiet  on  the  shoie  of  the  Pa- 
citie  during  the  war.  I  met  Ord  once  after  tiie  wai-  in  Washington. 
His  hobby  then  w-as  the  Australian  boomerang.  He  took  me  to 
a  room,  about  sixty  l)y  forty,  to  show  me  how  he  could  thi'ow 
them  to  the  end  of  the  room  and  make  them  come  back  and  fall 
at  his  feet.  He  was  studying  out  some  machine  to  discliarge 
tliem  raj)idly  and  thereby  till  the  air  with  scythe  blades  to  cut 
otl  the  heads  of  an  enemy,  and  every  boomerang  that  did  not 
strike  an  enemy  was  to  return  to  the  fort.  \  could  not  see  why 
this  boomerang,  wlien  it  returned,  would  not  injure  the  j)erson 
that  sent  it.  .\nd  thus  it  is;  we  all  have  some  hobby  on  hand, 
but  fortunately  most  of  them  are  as  harndess  as  Ord's  boomer- 
ang, except  we  cannot  get  otl'  this  kind  of  a  horse  and  rest  and 
sleep  as  we  do  from  a  real  horse. 

The  day  came  when  the  cry  was  heard:  "'All  on  boa  id.'' 
''  Farewell,"  the  i)arting  woi'd  of  friends,  was  spoken,  the  lines 
east  otf,  and  the  ship  [)assed  (k)wn  the  Patapsco  I'iver  to  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  to  the  Atlantic.  The  voyage  to  Aiansas  Pass  was 
tedious  and  not  particularly  eventful.  The  ca))tain  was  a  scoun- 
drel and  a  sinner,  I  found  amusement  in  going  aloft  and  sit  ting- 
in  the  foretop  surveying  the  oeean's  wide  expanse  without  in- 
trusion. When  we  neared  the  Bahamas  we  were  becalmed  nine 
days,  and  the  wicked  captain  would  lie  on  his  l)ack  and  ciu'se 
even  his  Creator. 

I  had,  as  well  as  the  captain,  made  all  the  obsei-\ations  foi- 
latitude  and  time,  to  com))are  with  his.  We  reai-hed  the  "'Hole 
in  the  Wall"  about   simset.  and    1   made  a  sketi-h   of   it:   passed 


32  7^110  ]Vars. 

(xreal  Stiirup-cMv  lio-hi  ;il)()iit  !•»  i'.m.  At 'J  a.m.  the  captain  and 
iiiati'  i-aiiu'  into  our  caWin,  where  his  i-hart  was  on  the  table,  and 
he  tried  to  inn)ress  on  tiie  mate  that  the  lio^ht  ahead  was  the 
Florida  Ii<rht:  that  he  iiad  crossed  the  Gulf  Stream  and  was  near- 
in<r  tiie  Florida  coast:  and  that  the  ship's  course  should  be 
chan<red  southerly.  1  heai'd  this  with  alarm,  for  I  could  not  be- 
lieve it  possible  that  we  had  passed  the  "(ircat  Isaacs"  and  the 
Straits  of  Floi'ida.  I  went  on  deck  at  the  dawn  of  day,  and  saw 
"Nvhite  sand  and  rocks  that  <lid  not  appear  more  than  a  do/en  feet 
beneath  the  water.  I  went  forward,  found  the  captain,  and  asked 
him  if  he  was  not  on  the  Bahama  Banks.  Hedeniedit.  I  went 
iunnediately  and  njade  known  the  situation  to  Maj.  Ringgold. 
He  appeared  to  take  but  little  interest  in  the  mattei',  supposed 
the  ship  was  all  right,  etc. 

About  sunrise  he  came  out,  and  1  called  his  attention  to  the 
shoal  water  and  rocks  and  the  lighthouse  on  our  st <irh(>((r<l  how. 
He  s])()ke  to  the  captain  about  what  I  told  him,  and  was  informed 
that  1  was  a  boy  and  did  not  know  what  T  was  talking  al)out. 
The  blue  line  of  the  deep  water  was  in  front  of  us,  and  a  l)ark 
under  full  sail  on  the  other  side  of  the  lighthouse  heading  south; 
and  as  we  neared  each  other  oiu'  captain  took  his  trum})et  and 
asked,  "  What  ship  is  that? "  and  the  reply  was  prompt,  ''What 
in  h-11  are  you  doing  there?"  I  turned  to  the  jVIajor  and  asked 
him  if  that  answer  did  not  explain  the  situation.  The  bark  was 
the  Caleb  Cushing,  bound  to  New  Orleans  laden  with  ice.  T 
believe  to-day  it  was  an  attem))t  to  wreck  the  shi]).  where  life 
W'as  safe,  to  get  the  insurance. 

As  we  were  nearly  out  of  drinking  water,  there  was  a  necessi- 
ty to  run  into  the  nearest  port  for  a  fresh  su})])ly,  and  the  ship 
put  into  Key  West.  What  a  relief  I  That  misera))le  ca])tain  had 
fed  us  on  junk  meat,  boiled  dried-apple  pudding,  and  hardtack 
with  weak  coti'ee.  1  have  never  eaten  any  of  these  dishes  since. 
We  remained  in  Key  West  one  day  and  night,  and  sailed  the 
next  morning.  There  we  got  some  West  Indies  fruit  and  plen- 
ty of  limes. 

The  ship  was  now  provisioned  with  green  turtle,  the  only  meat 
I  saw  in  the  market  in  the  town,  and  now  turtle  was  substituted 
for  salt  beef;  and  henceforth  it  was  turtle  steak,  turtle  sou])  (in 
name  only),  and  turtle  at  every  meal  until  it  became  as  unpal- 
atable as  junk  beef.     Some  days  after  leaving  Key  West  clouds 


Stohm  on  the  Gulf.  33 

from  tlio  south-east  hctrjin  to  tly  over,  extrLMuely  low,  driven  by 
u  current  just  ubove  us.  The  captain  took  in  sail,  leavino^  only 
spread  the  jib,  fore-topsail,  main  topsail,  and  spanker,  and  1  be- 
lieve the  mainsail.  I  was  sittinof  in  the  cabin  when  all  at  once 
tables,  chairs,  trunks,  and  everythino^  movea})le  were  shot  to  the 
starboard  side  in  a  heap.  I  caught  hold  of  some  fixtures,  got 
out  the  cabin,  which  was  on  deck,  and  clung  to  the  weather 
shrouds.  The  ship  was  nearly  on  her  side.  The  captain  jumped 
for  the  halyards,  sailors  slid  down  the  deck,  feet  foremost,  to  let 
them  go.  I  had  been  anxious  to  be  in  a  storm  on  the  ocean,  and 
here  was  one  (juite  unexpected. 

What  riveted  my  attention  mainly  was  the  roaring  of  the  tem- 
pest through  the  rigging.  The  great  shrouds  vibrated  with  a 
sound  that  made  the  ship  tremble,  and  every  rope  and  cord 
shrieked  aloud  in  a  different  tone  according  to  size,  creating  a 
thundering,  howling,  shrieking  roar  that  impressed  me  with  awe 
not  unlike  that  I  felt  nndi'  the  falls  of  Niagara.  I  was  so  fas- 
cinated with  the  music  of  the  tempest  that  I  was  olilivious  to  the 
thought  of  danger,  until  the  ship  began  to  rise  from  her  side, 
and  when  she  rose  well  on  her  keel  I  thought  the  horses  would 
kick  the  vessel  to  pieces. 

When  we  arrived  at  Aransas  Pass  the  sea  was  high  and  the 
wind  strong,  and  no  lighters  w^ould  venture  outside  to  come  to 
us.  The  discharging  the  cargo  was  tedious,  as  the  horses  had  to 
be  swung  to  the  yardarms  and  lowered  into  the  pitching  tugs 
alongside.  I  had  been  forty-six  days  on  board  ship,  and  joyous 
was  it  to  be  landed  on  St.  Joseph's  Island. 

I  will  make  a  small  digression  here,  because  it  will  shed  some 
light  on  matters  hereafter,  and  show  that  a  camp  may  have  some 
attractions  as  well  as  a  palace. 

Maj.  Ringgold  carried  with  him  a  middle-aged  colored  servant 
who  had  much  experience  in  arranging  dinner  and  supper  i)ar- 
ties  in  Baltimore.  He  cared  for  nothing  save  to  surprise  us  with 
dishes  that  would  have  delighted  Lucullus.  Such  pompano, 
l)aked  red  snappers,  boiled  red  fish,  delicate  soups,  turkeys,  geese, 
ducks,  and  game  birds  on  toast.  In  pastry  he  had  no  superior. 
\ever  could  we,  by  money  or  otherwise,  discover  how  he  pre- 
pared his  sauces.  In  taste  in  arranging  a  table  he  resembled 
Ward  McAllister,  and  he  was  tittedfor  a ''chef '\at  Delmonico's 
or  the  Waldorf. 


34  7' Fro  Wars. 

Ridofely  had  an  old  slave  servant,  and  Shover  and  I  colored 
men  hired.  They  were  all  true  and  faithful  servants,  yet  in  dis- 
rejjard  of  instructions  they  would  ride  down  and  find  us  on  the 
battlefield  with  a  good  luncheon.  They  always  wished  to  go  with 
us  ^vhen  there  was  a  ])rospect  of  a  ti^ofht.  So  now  you  can  un- 
derstand how  much  I  rejoiced  to  leave  that  villainous  captain 
and  ship,  and  enjoy  aa^ain  the  luxury  of  a  clean  table. 

The  terms  of  annexation  proposed  by  the  United  States  were 
acce})ted  July  4,  1845,  and  Gen.  Taylor  Avas  already  at  Corpus 
Christi  with  a  considerable  force  when  we  landed  on  St.  Jo- 
seph's Island.  Consequently  our  stay  on  the  island  was  soon 
teilninated  l)y  our  embarkin<r  on  a  liirht  draft  steamer  for  Cor- 
pus Christi.  As  the  water  is  shoal  in  frout  of  this  place,  the 
steamer  was  anchored  near  a  mile  from  shore,  and  the  horses 
thrown  overboard  and  made  to  swim  to  land.  Corpus  Christi 
is  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  Nueces  River,  and  consequently 
the  L'nited  States  troops  w^ere  occupyin.of  the  disputed  territory. 
I  have  no  date  to  o^uide  me  now,  but  it  nuist  have  been  about  the 
last  of  October  when  we  landed  on  the  barren  sands  of  the  Bay 
of  Nueces.  Here  a  permanent  cam])  and  depot  were  established, 
and  discipline  in  the  troops  commenced. 

There  was  but  o/ie  house  in  this  foion  at  that  time.  It  was  a  can- 
vas town.  It  was  not  an  unpleasant  place  to  be  in.  Lieut, 
flohn  B.  Magruder  was  a  orood  theatrical  manasfer,  and  under  his 
charge  a  theater  was  constructed,  and  a  fair  com])any  of  actors 
enlisted.  This  attracted  some  professional  of  the  l)oar(ls.  and 
thus  niofhtly  entertainments  were  p]'o\ide(l.  The  disciples  t)f 
Isaac  Walton  had  rare  sport  in  the  l)ny  and  streams:  and  sports- 
men a  field  for  all  kind  of  <rame.  l)uiin<»"  the  winter  a  cold 
"norther"  ])revailed,  and  thousands  of  a'leen  turtle.  j)ompano, 
red  fish,  red  snappers,  and  other  of  the  limiy  tril)e  were  l)e- 
numl)ed  and  cast  on  the  shores  on  every  side.  The  numl)er  of 
wild  <!;eese  that  nijjhtly  came  from  the  ])rairies  to  rest  on  the 
waters  of  the  bay  was  beyond  estimate.  A  few  miles  up  the  hay, 
at  sunset,  the  <reese  would  obscure  the  sky  from  /cnitli  to  the 
ver^e  of  the  horizon,  and  bewilder  the  youna'  spoilsman,  who 
Avould  always  want  two  or  three  at  a  shot  instead  of  one.  Ten 
minutes,  usually,  woidd  sullice  to  ofet  as  many  geese  as  our  horses 
could  carry. 

Deer  and  turkeys  wei'c  al»uii<lanl.  I)ii1  on  the  open  i)rairie  would 


Mexican  I'oniks.  35 

provokingly  iuonc  mIoiiu:  in  t'l'ont  of  the  liimtcr  jiisi  out  of  i'an<re 
of  shot.  Jack  or  Knirlisli  sniix'  would  rise  from  the  marshy 
places  in  flocks  instead  of  a  hi-ace.  There  was  a  l)ir(l  freijacntly 
seen  in  the  roads  and  |)aths  near  camj),  always  ah »ne,  shaped  like 
a  "fame  cock,  that  excited  curiosity.  Finally  it  was  shot,  and  is 
now  known  as  the  chaparral  coi-k. 

Soldiers  found  amusement  in  bettin;^  on  Mexican  ponies 
trained  to  stop  instantly  on  the  sli,<>'htest  toucii  of  the  reins.  A 
line  wouhl  l)e  marked  in  tlie  sand  on  the  seashore,  and  the  rider 
of  the  pony  would  take  all  bets  that  he  could  run  his  pony  a 
hundred  yards  at  full  speed  and  sto])  him  instantly  (say)  within 
a  foot  of  the  line,  and  not  pass  over  it;  and  tliey  irenerally  won 
the  bets. 

Many  fleet  ponies  were  brought  tiierc,  and  i-acinir  was  a  daily 
occurrence.  On  one  occasion  the  otticers  <j:ot  up  a  li'i'and  race. 
Capt.  May  and  Lieut.  Randolph  Rid^ely  were  to  ride  the  re- 
spective horses.  When  mounted.  May's  feet  nearly  reached  the 
ground;  and  they  rode  "  bareback."  It  was  an  excitin<r  race. 
On  they  came  under  whi})  and  s})ui'  amidst  the  crowd  shoutinof 
wild  hurrah.  As  they  crossed  tiies'oal,  May  thouijhtlessly  checked 
his  pony,  and  instantly  the  animal  straio-htened  his  foreleg's  and 
stopped;  but  May,  not  havin<r  braced  himself,  went  on.  Seizing: 
the  ])ony  by  the  neck  with  l)oth  hands,  his  leijs  rose  in  the  air. 
and  he  made  a  complete  somersault,  iandinofon  the  ofroundsome 
twelve  or  more  feet  in  front  of  the  pony.  As  he  was  not  injui-ed. 
the  crowd  went  wild  with  joy. 

A  great  number  of  Mexicans  would  daily  visit  our  camp  with 
horses,  or  rather  ponies,  saddles,  bridles,  blankets,  and  other 
horse  e([uii)ments  for  sale.  T  have  had  a  horse  and  saddle  of- 
fered for  seventy-five  dollars,  ov  seventy  for  the  saddle  and  five 
for  the  horse.  I  bought  the  best  trained  hunting  pony  that  1 
have  ever  known  for  fifteen  dollars.  The  owner  protested  that 
he  was  "nuicho  bueno*'  for  hunting,  and  so  he  proved.  At  full 
speed  he  had  been  trained  to  stop  instantly  the  moment  a  motion 
was  made  to  fire  the  gun.  I  once  had  this  pony  to  go  u])  and  rub 
the  side  of  his  head  on  the  w  heel  of  a  jnece  of  artillery  when  be- 
ing: fired  rapidly  in  battle.  He  loved  the  smell  of  gunpowder 
better  than  I  did.  Xeai-ly  all  the  oflicei's  bt)ught  ponies  for  them- 
selves or  servants  to  ride.  \\  e  heard  so  nuich  about  the  great 
snow-white  horse  of  the  prairies,  with  a  long  flowing  tail  that 


36  Two   ]Vm:s. 

s\\  i'])t  till'  Ln'i'cu  i:r;i».  iind  ;i  iiiaiic  hclow  his  knees,  that  I  thought 
it  was  a  })hantt)iii  horse  (tii  the  hiiul  like  the  ilyinu:  nutehnian  on 
the  sea.  I  was  mistaken.  I  heard  oiic  day  he  had  been  hissoed 
and  sohl  to  the  quartermaster  of  the  post,  so  I  went  "for  to  see" 
him.  There  he  was,  chained  to  the  pole  of  an  army  wa<]fon.  He 
would  kiek  at  every  ])ers()n  and  animal  that  ventured  near  him. 
I  left  him  kicking  at  the  man  who  fed  him  on  hay  tied  on  the 
end  of  a  twenty-foot  ]iole.  ^^'hMt  became  of  this  emblematic 
horse  I  cannot  tell. 

The  desire  "to  know  the  world  by  siofht  and  not  by  books" 
W'as  increased.  1  had  seen  the  Atlantic's  deep  heavnnof  swells, 
the  tempest  in  its  miirht  on  the  gulf,  the  calms  on  the  borders 
of  the  tro])ics,  Avith  those  never-to-be-forgotten  beauties  caused 
by  the  setting  sun  behind  those  wonderful  clouds.  Every  even- 
ing as  the  sun  declined,  great  ])anks  of  ))lue  and  purple  clou(is 
would  form,  presenting  to  the  eye,  without  the  aid  of  imagina- 
tion, the  most  lovely  plains,  bold  mountain  ranges,  whose  tops 
were  draped  in  fantastic  clouds.  I'emples  that  were  as  gloomy 
as  p]gypfs:  castles  as  enchanting  as  those  on  the  Rhine;  chariots 
with  horses;  human  faces  and  animals  in  silhouette:  lions  in  re- 
pose and  lions  ramj)ant;  phantasms  w:oven  out  of  clouds  by  rays 
of  the  setting  sun;  all,. fill  changing  in  expression  and  form  by  the 
gentle  movements  of  the  clouds,  fading  aAvay  in  outline  into  one 
vast  glow-  of  crimscm  twilight  that  dissolved  into  air: 

••AikI  like  llic  l):ist'l(!s.s  fabrif  of  a  vision,  left  not  track  hcliintl.'" 

And  now  leariiiiio'  thai  a  small  train  of  wagons  would  soon 
lea\('  for  San  Antonio,  I  obtained  a  month's  leave  to  visit  that 
city,  made  memorable  l)y  the  defense  of  the  Alamo  and  other 
tragic  events.  When  the  time  came  to  start  T  met  Lieut.  W.  L. 
Crittenden,  wlio  tohl  me  he  had  a  leave  and  w^as  also  going  with 
the  train.  The  expedition  was  in  charge  of  Capt.  N.  H.  Ros- 
sell.  When  we  came  to  the  San  Patricio  ci'ossingof  the  Nueces 
river  the  train  could  not  cross  by  reason  of  the  rains.  Impa- 
tient of  delay,  I  proposed  to  Crittenden  and  two  gentlemen  from 
Kentucky  that  w^e  '"cut  loose''  fi-om  the  train  and  ])rocee(l  on 
onr  journey.  Theic  was  with  the  train  a  Mr.  C'ampbell,  who 
lived  in  San  Antonio,  and  he  was  willing  to  undertake  to  ))ilot 
us  over  this  imknown.  imtrodden.  pathless  country. 

At  the  close  of  the  lirst  dav.  the  ifuitleanil  1  beinir  in  adxance. 


Abvsdance  of  Game.  37 

wo  came  to  a  small,  clear,  l)uhl)lin<r  hrook,  and  he  said:  "  Here 
we  will  encamp  for  the  night."  So,  dismounting,  I  hitched  my 
pony  and  went  up  the  stream  in  quest  of  turkeys  that  1  heard 
gobbling.  I  found  them  going  to  roost,  and  covetous  of  num- 
bers, I  would  not  shoot  one  and  return  as  I  should  have  done. 
I  heard  the  party  shouting  forme.  So,  waiting  till  a  number  of 
turkeys  were  in  the  tree,  I  tired  both  barrels,  and  only  two  of  the 
birds  fell  when  I  expected  double  that  number.  When  1  went 
to  get  the  birds,  alas!  they  were  on  an  island  and  I  had  to  leave 
them.  It  was  now  dark,  and  as  I  had  crossed  to  the  left  bank 
of  the  stream  I  went  on  down  until  I  supposed  I  was  near  the 
camp,  and  made  a  soft  halloo!  No  answer.  1  then  shouted 
louder  and  louder;  then  all  was  silence.  I  felt  a  peculiar  crawl- 
ing sensation  running  over  me,  and  I  think  my  hair  objected  to 
my  wearing  my  hat.  I  took  a  survey  of  the  situation.  I  was 
alone  in  an  Indian  country;  it  was  very  dark,  and  I  must  not  pass 
over  the  trail  where  we  crossed  the  stream.  Aided  with  the 
light  of  matches  and  })uruing  grass  I  discovered  the  trail  and 
found  my  pony  hitched  where  I  left  him.  Mounting  him,  I  fol- 
lowed the  trail.  After  a  while  I  heard  far  away  some  one  hal- 
loo. It  was  Crittenden  returning  for  me.  We  met,  and  I  reached 
camp  in  no  pleasant  mood.  It  was  an  experience  I  have  only 
once  since  undergone,  and  the  sensations  of  the  mind  when  lost 
are  bewildering. 

It  was  the  average  estimate  of  the  party  that  the  number  of 
deer  that  moved  to  the  right  and  left  of  our  trail  was  not  less 
than  twelve  hundred,  besides  numerous  antelope.  Out  of  all 
this  number  we  never  killed  one,  for  we  had  no  rifle,  and  they 
would  walk  off  or  keep  provokingly  just  out  of  gunshot.  We 
killed  all  the  turkeys  we  wanted  for  food.  In  four  days  we 
reached  San  Antonio.  There  were  but  four  ivhlte  families 
living  in  the  town  at  that  date:  Volney  Howard,  Tom  How- 
ard, our  guide  Campbell,  and  Mrs.  Bradley.  Lands  were 
ofl'ered  us  at  six  cents  per  acre  that  commands  now  over  a 
thousand  dollars  per  acre,  and  the  population  is  at  present  tifty 
thousand. 

At  the  San  Pedro  Springs,  the  source  of  the  San  Antonio  river, 
where  the  river  in  its  strength  gushes  up  from  the  earth,  we 
found  Col.  Harney  encamped  witii  a  squadron  of  dragoons.  He 
had  l)uilt  an  observatory  from  which  to  obtain  a  view  of  the  sur- 


38  Two  Wars. 

idiiiuliiiir  c'ountrv.     From  the  top  liiiiuh'ods  of  deer  could  hv  seen 
(luietlv  i>Ta/,iiiir  on  the  ])rairies  iicai-  by.* 

^^'ild  lioiTs  and  larofe  wolves  infested  the  ehapairal  aiound  the 
hills,  and  were  eaugrht  in  tiaps.  The  country  is  beautiful  to  the 
eye,  and  the  city  sleeps  in  what  may  be  termed  a  valley,  by  rea- 
son of  the  low  hills  on  the  north  and  east.  To  the  west  the  plain 
extends  to  the  Medina  river.  Western  Texas  in  the  months  of 
March  and  A])ril  is  lovely  beyond  comparison.     The  green  grass 

*Col.  Harney  was  annoj'ed  by  tho  nnnibcr  of  blackbirds  that  would 
feed  with  the  horses,  eating  the  grain:  so  while  the  horses  were  out  graz- 
ing I  asked  an  officer  for  a  gun  to  kill  some  of  the  birds.  He  handed  me  a 
long  single-barreled  one  with  a  bore  about  the  size  of  a  half  dollar.  From 
the  powder  Hask  I  put  in  two  charges  of  powder  and  shot.  The  ground 
was  covered  with  birds.  I  tii-ed  and  killed  none:  the  chai'ge  was  too 
small.  The  doctor  (I  think  he  was  a  doctor)  said  he  would  load  it  for  me. 
so  I  took  another  shot.  This  time  I  thought  my  arm  dislocated  at  the 
shoulder.  I  did  not  count  the  number  of  l)irds,  but  the  gi-ound  was  cov- 
ered with  the  dead  and  wouuded.  I  played  indifference  while  meditating 
revenge  for  a  sore  shoulder.  Going  to  the  top  of  the  observatory,  1  saw 
perhaps  a  hundred  deer  grazing  close  by:  so  I  was  taken  with  a  desire  to 
kill  one.  and  again  asked  the  doctor  for  his  gun.  He  proposed  loading  it 
for  me.  Itold  him  I  preferred  doing  it  myself.  I  i)Ut  in  three  charges  of 
powder,  or  three  drams,  and  about  forty  small  buckshot,  and  otf  I  went 
for  a  deer.  The  herd  grazed  along  l)efore  me  up  the  slope  of  a  ridge,  and 
passed  over  it.  I  crawled  on  my  hands  and  knees  to  the  crest,  an<l  such 
a  sightl  A  nuujber  of  single  deer  were  within  twenty  yards  of  me.  At 
once  I  became  covetous.  Shoot  a  single  deer".'  No.  I  wanted  four  or 
five  (remembering  "all  things  come  to  those  who  wait  "),  so  presently  five 
or  six  were  nearly  in  a  line,  but  more  distant:  and  when  I  pulled  the  trig- 
ger the  gun  said  "fush,"  and  the  smoke  came  in  my  face.  As  I  looked 
over  the  field  1  was  amazed.  There  were  all  the  deer  standing  facing  me. 
their  h(^ads  higli.  ears  spread  out  wide,  and  their  large,  sofl,  mild  eyes 
lookijig  at  me  imploiingl}^  and  not  alarmed.  Probably  they  had  never 
heard  a  gun  (and  I  am  quite  sure  they  did  not  hear  this  one).  ff>r  the  In- 
dians then  were  armed  only  with  l)()ws  and  arrows. 

I  sat  down  on  tiie  green  grass  and  looked  at  the  deer,  ami  felt  that  ex- 
perience must  l)e  a  good  teacher.  But  the  days  came  when  I  did  kill 
many:  l)Ut  the  first  <jne  fell  dead  from  a  shot  from  my  pistol. 

I  make  mention  of  the.se  little  events  thai  lidonu  lo  the  past  to  show 
how  great  is  the  change  maile  in  a  few  pa.ssing  years.  Wliere  now  is  all 
this  game,  and  where  are  the  Indians?  Alike  they  have  disappeared  l)e- 
fore  the  advance  of  avaricious  civilization.  From  San  Antonio  to  Corpus 
Christi  and  to  Kl  I'aso  the  country  was  as  (Jod  made  it,  unchangeii  l)y  In- 
dians, .iiid  ii\cf  ihr  |ilains  and  f)n  a  tiiousand  hills  roamed  deer,  wild  tur- 
key, jiartridgcs,  ami  the  waters  swarmed  with  swan,  geese,  and  ducks  un- 
molested by  sportsmen. 


McLaws  Wounded.  39 

is  hidden  beneath  flowers  of  every  color;  not  flowers  here  and 
tliere,  hut  one  unbroken  mass,  presentinof  a  richness  of  coloring 
beyond  the  art  of  man;  as  we  ride  along  there  are  acres  of  solid 
blue,  then  of  white,  now  of  yellow,  then  pink  and  purple;  then 
all  mixed  u])  of  every  hue,  as  T  once  saw  ])etunias  on  the  lawn 
at  Capo  di  ]\I<)nti,  in  Naples. 

My  stay  in  San  Antonio  depended  on  the  departure  of  the 
train.  There  were  a  number  of  army  officers  waitino;  the  con- 
venience and  protection  of  the  wagons.  The  evening  of  our  de- 
parture was  notable  for  an  incident  illustrating  the  power  of  im- 
agination over  bodily  feeling.  Most  of  the  oflicers  had  arrived 
at  the  camping  ground  in  advance  of  the  wagons,  and  were  sit- 
ting under  the  trees  when  they  came.  As  the  train  was  passing 
by  Crittenden  got  u])  and  took  from  his  pocket  what  was  called 
a  pepper  box  pistol  and  fired  at  a  tree  in  a  line  parallel  to  the 
road.  Just  at  that  time  Lieut.  Lafayette  McLaws  left  the  train 
to  come  where  we  were,  and  shouted:  "Quit  firing,  I  am  shot."" 
As  he  was  not  in  range,  no  one  regai'ded  what  he  said,  and  Crit- 
tenden kept  on  firing  the  revolver. 

When  McLaws  rode  up  he  had  a  wild  look,  and  the  bosom  of 
his  shirt  was  red  with  l)lood.  A  ball  hitting  the  tree  had  glanced 
off  at  an  angle  and  struck  him.  He  was  taken  from  his  horse 
and  the  wound  examined.  There  was  the  hole  where  the  bullet 
entered  the  breast,  and  he  was  spitting  l)lo()d;  and  no  surgeon 
being  present  he  was  put  in  a  wagon  to  l)e  taken  l)ack  to  San 
Antonio.  He  was  resting  on  his  back  on  straw  and  I  was  by  his 
side.  Again  he  spit  some  blood.  He  said:  "My  days  are  num- 
bered. My  whole  chest  is  filled  with  blood,  and  I  can  feel  the 
blood  shaking  inside  as  though  I  were  filled  with  water."  He  was 
satisfied  that  he  would  soon  die  from  internal  hemorrhage;  and 
perhaps  he  would,  but  fortunately  it  was  discovered  that  the  ball 
had  also  hit  h/s  liidcx  p'nr/cr^  that  he  had  unknowingly  sucked  it  in 
hismoutli,and  this  was  the  blood  he  was  s])itting  up.  I  therefore 
got  out  the  wagon  and  left  liiui.  On  Mrri\al  in  San  Antonio  the 
wound  was  probed  by  a  surgeon  and  the  ball  discovered  near  the 
spine.  It  was  a  glancing  shot  that  pressing  against  the  skin  fol- 
lowed the  line  of  least  resistance  until  arrested  by  the  spine.  He 
soon  recovered  and  came  l)ack  to  Cor])US  (jhristi. 

On  the  way  back,  when  we  sti'uck  the  Nueces  river  we  discov- 
ered llint  the  limber  was  a  tiirhrif  rooai.      As  the  train  was  going 


•40  T\r(>  W.ih's. 

only  three  miles  farther  on  to  camp,  a  younjr  man.  son  of  Col. 
INIflntosh.  and  I  aofrocd  to  remain  there  until  dark  and  kill  some 
turkeys.  Mi-lntosh  selected  a  tree  under  the  Wank  near  the  riv- 
er; T  fastened  my  pony  to  a  hush  on  the  plain  and  sat  under  the 
bank  in  the  woods  on  the  second  bottom.  Al)out  sunset  ^sfreat 
flocks  of  turkeys  began  to  ap})ear  until  the  plains  were  alive  with 
them.  They  were  disturbed  by  my  pony  being  tied  there.  As  it 
grew  dark  they  came  into  the  trees  or  woods,  flock  after  flock, 
in  such  numbers  that  they  bent  the  limbs  and  fell  to  the  ground 
all  aroimd  me.  I  made  seven  shots,  shooting  only  at  the  head 
as  they  were  so  near  me.  I  picked  u])  six  flne  gob})lers  (1  would 
shoot  no  hens),  and,  staggering  under  the  load,  reached  my  pony. 
I  threw  the  turkeys  down  and  mounting  my  pony  rode  to  Mc- 
intosh. ]\IcTntosh  had  fired  l)oth  barrels,  and  had  one  turkey.  He 
had  stopped  without  any  other  anununition.  Accompanying  me 
back  to  where  my  game  was,  we  tied  the  turkeys  and  put  them 
over  the  necks  of  our  horses  and  went  into  camp.  1  have  no 
doubt  that  more  than  a  thousand  turkeys  flew  into  that  timber 
to  roost;  they  were  on  the  ground  all  around  me,  and  they  could 
have  been  killed  with  a  walking  stick.  T  do  not  believe  they  had 
ever  heard  a  gun  fired  before.  By  the  stupidity  of  not  i)rotect- 
ing  game  by  proper  laws  it  has  all  disappeared  long  since.  •  In- 
dians obtained  rifles  and  ammunition  from  traders,  and  the  deer 
were  killed  solely  for  their  skins;  and  the  wild  members  of  the 
Legislature  looked  on  and  said:  "  Let  the  boys  hunt  whenever 
they  please;  the  country  and  all  it  contains  belongs  to  them.''' 
It  is  now  justly  held  that  all  game  belongs  to  the  State  and  be- 
comes the  property  of  the  iudivi(hial  only  as  ])ermitted  by  law, 
and  after  it  is  killed. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

President  of  Mexico  Resigns,  and  Paredes  Is  Eleeted — Mexiean  Troops 
Concentrating  at  Matanioras— Taylor  Marches  to  the  Rio{irande — Rat- 
tlesnakes— Mirage— Wild  Horses — Taylor  ("oncentrates  His  Troops  at 
Arroyo,  Colo. — Hull  Fight — Mexicans  Flee — Taylor  Goes  to  Point  Isabel 
— Join  Gen.  Worth — Field  Works — Arrival  of  Gen.  Ampudia  — Orders 
Taylor  to  Leave — Taylor  Declines — Col.  Cross  Murdered — Lieut.  Por- 
ter Killed  (ien.  Arista  Arrives— Declares  Hostilities  Commenced — 
("apis.  Thornton  and  Hardee  Captured. 

DURINCr  the  winter  the  friendly  Mexicans  who  came  to  the 
camp  would  tell  us  of  the  preparations  their  ijovernment 
was  makintr  for  war. 

At  the  close  of  Decend)er,  IH-tS,  Herrera  was  forced  to  resig^n 
the  presidency  oi  Mexico,  and  Paredes  was  electedln  his  place;  and 
detachments  of  troops  hejjan  to  move  north,  concentratinsc  at 
Matanioras,  on  the  Rio  (irande,  and  the  aspect  of  affairs  looked 
quite  belligerent.  On  the  2'2d  of  February,  184(5,  a  depot  of 
supplies  was  estal^lished  by  our  troops  at  Santa  Gertrudes,  some 
forty  miles  in  achance  on  the  route  to  Matanioras.  On  the  7th 
of  March  the  tents  of  our  company  were  struck  preparatory  to 
a  move,  and  the  day  following'  the  line  of  march  for  the  Rio 
(irande  commenced. 

The  advance  troops  were  a  brigade  of  cavalry  and  Ringgold's 
battery  of  horse  artillery.  To  be  more  minute,  the  order  of 
march  was:  a  company  of  cavalry,  then  our  battery,  then  the 
main  body  of  cavalry.  As  you  can  get  all  important  matters 
from  history,  I  shall  allude  only  to  what  history  generally  omits, 
and  relate  minor  affairs  or  scenes  behind  history,  like  that  un- 
known behind  the  stage.  The  first  night  out  we  encamped  at  a 
beautiful  place  covered  with  blue  flowers  like  the  hyacinth.  It 
was  pleasant  to  look  at,  an  enchanting  scene  that  would  have 
l)een  drowsy  and  dreamlike  from  the  fragrance  of  the  flowers 
had  we  not  discovered  nearly  every  man  grazing  his  horse  car- 
rying a  small  pole  with  which  he  was  killing  rattlesnakes.  That 
night  I  slept  on  the  ground  and  dreamed  a  great  centipede  was 
crawling  over  me,  and  1  awoke  with  a  great  scream,  like  Dudu, 
from  her  sleep. 

We  had  breakfast  at  daylight,  and  while  we  were  sitting  by 


42  7'h'o  Wa/.'s. 

the  eani|)  tire  Avaitino;  for  tlu*  haofle  to  call,  and  watcliincr  the  wild 
ofeese  i^yinir  around  overhead  bewildered  by  the  fires,  I  held  my 
jLTini  point  iniT  at  them,  and  ])y  some  mishap  it  went  ofl' and  alarmed 
the  eamp;  but  a  Sfoose  fell  down,  nevertheless,  near  ine.  The 
Sfnide,  Pedro,  said  we  had  sixteen  miles  to  martli  that  day  to  the 
next  eamp.  Our  line  was  diverijin*r  somewhat  inland  from  the 
ofulf  shore,  and  all  the  prairie  was  one  green  carpet  of  grass  and 
tiowers  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  when  all  at  once  there  was 
a  great  ocean  on  our  left  and  not  far  distant.  Officers  galloped 
to  Pedro  to  leani  what  was  the  matter,  and  ere  an  explanation 
was  had  the  iiiir</f/e  was  gone,  the  ocean  was  gone,  and  we  wei'e 
on  the  lone  prairie  as  before. 

The  third  day  we  were  inarching  quietly  along  when  an  alarm 
was  sounded.  To  our  right  and  a  little  to  the  rear  in  the  horizon 
was  what  a[)peared  to  be  a  colunui  of  cavalry  l^earing  down  on 
us.  As  it  came  nearer  and  nearer  the  cry  aiose:  "Wild  horses, 
wild  horsesi"  Our  battery  w^as  closed  u]).  the  advanced  compa- 
ny of  cavalry  moved  on,  leaving  a  large  opening;  the  dragoons 
massed,  making  an  interval  for  the  herd  to  pass  through.  On, 
and  on  they  came  and,  at  full  speed,  with  their  long  flowing 
manes  and  tails,  passed  through  the  open  space  made  by  the  bat- 
tery and  dragoons.  There  were  between  tw^o  and  three  hundred. 
As  soon  as  they  passed  Capt.  ^Nlay,  Lieut,  llidgely,  and  sonie 
other  officers  were  after  tliciu  on  their  fine  horses  with  lariat  in 
hand,  and  aftci-  a  ride  of  a  mile  or  more  came  back  each  with  a 
young  colt.  They  stayed  with  our  horses  several  days  and  then 
disappeared.  When  we  en(^am))ed  a  jKmy  that  I  had  bought  for 
my  servant  to  ride  was  bitten  on  the  facc^  by  a  rattlesnake  near 
the  door  of  our  tent.  The  animal  was  treated  with  anunonia  and 
whisky.  The  next  morning  his  head  was  so  swollen  that  I  left 
hiiii  behind.  A  sei'vant  of  the  paymaster,  when  the  infantry 
came  along,  found  the  jjony  and  brought  it  on  to  the  Rio  (Irande 
and  retui-ned  it  to  my  boy. 

The  iiit'aiitry  lUMi-cliecl  by  l)i'igades  at  a  day's  interval.  The 
olficers  and  men  being  in  iniiforiu,  weaiing  ca[)s.  had  their  lips 
and  noses  neai-ly  raw  from  the  sun  and  winds,  and  could  not  put 
a  cuj)  of  collce  1(1  their  lips  inilil  it  was  cold.  I  woi'c  an  im- 
mense sombicro,  or  Mexican  straw  hat.  On  the  route  I  was 
often  told:  ""  When  (i(;n.  Taylor  comes  u])  you  will  be  put  in  ai- 
i-est    for   wearinLr   lli:i1    lint.""     Tlie  :iriii\-   concent  rated   near   the 


So.Mf-:  !^PAXISFI  Sl'OBT.  43 

Anovo  ("oldiMclo.  wlicie  the  general  coniinaiKlino^  overtook  us. 
I  went  over  to  call  on  him  the  next  niorninir.  and  found  him  in 
front  of  his  tent  sittin<r  on  a  camp  stool  eatiiiir  l)i'('akf;ist.  His 
table  was  the  lid  of  the  mess  chest.  His  nose  was  white  from  the 
peelinfir  off  of  the  skin,  and  his  lips  raw.  As  I  came  up  he  sa- 
luted me  with:  "(iood  morniiiir.  lieutenant,  jrood  mornino^;  sen- 
sible man  to  wear  a  hat."'  So  1  w'as  commended  instead  of  be- 
inof  censui'ed  for  makinir  myself  comfortable.  His  coffee  was  in 
a  tin  cu]).  and  his  lii)s  so  sore  that  the  heat  of  the  tin  was  pain- 
ful. 

A  day  or  so  after  this  the  advance  j)ickets  encountered  a 
herd  of  wild  cattle  that  all  ran  away  except  an  old  bull  that 
showed  hirht.  Hearing  shots  in  advance  I  galloped,  on  and  found 
four  or  tive  cavalrymen  around  this  animal,  that  looked  as  if  he 
might  be  the  grandsire  of  the  herd.  Every  shot  tired  from  the 
carbines  had  failed  to  penetrate  the  skin.  I  was  armed  with  my 
shotgun  and  a  l)race  of  old  pistols  made  in  ^Marseilles,  France, 
that  Lieut.  V .  S.  (Jrant  gave  me  to  carry  along  for  him.  1  tired 
both  these  pistols  at  the  enraged  animal,  and  the  balls  only  made 
the  skin  red  by  removing  the  hair.  We  now  persuaded  a  dra- 
goon to  ])ut  himself  in  front  of  the  beast  while  I  a])proached 
within  twenty  feet  of  his  side,  and  from  my  gun  hied  a  l)all  that 
penetrated  the  lungs.  Still  he  pawed  the  earth  and  charged  the 
horses,  some  of  which  were  injured,  and  inspired  new  life  to  all 
around  him  while  his  own  was  ebbing.  At  last  a  (h-agoon  dis- 
mounted, cautiously  approached,  shot  him  in  the  forehead, 
and  the  already  weakened  bull  fell  on  his  knees  and  rolled  on  his 
side — dead. 

This  tight  was  not  conducted  according  to  all  the  rules  of  the 
ring  at  Madrid.  Wv.  had,  however,  a  dozen  picadors  and  a  mat- 
adore,  and  they  performed  feats  of  valor  without  the  approv- 
ing smiles  of  l>lack-eyed  sefioi-asor  the  applause  of  the  grandees, 
which  in  Spain  nerves  the  actors  to  daring  deeds;  l)ut  there  was 
a 'compensation,  for  there  were  no  hisses  when  one  fled  from  the 
bull  to  save  his  horse,  oi-  sought  a  raking  position  in  the  rear  to 
encourage  those  in  front.  The  lesson  I  drew  from  this  kind  of 
recreation  was  that  at  the  next  bullhght  I  would  be  found  among 
the  spectators  and  not  in  the  arena. 

This  continued  hring  by  the  advance  guard  t-aused  troops  to 
hasten  to  the  fr(mt  to  ascertain  the  reascni  of  the  tunnilt.  and 


44  Tun  ]]'ans. 

when  it  was  repoi'tcd  lo  (icn.  Tayloi'  thai  accoi'dino-  lo  the  rules 
of  Texas,  ^lexieo.  and  Spain  a  Ixill  had  hccn  foimd.  an  amphi- 
theater marked  out.  and  that  a  ical  Ixill  li<:lit  liad  taken  place; 
that  the  n(»l)lc  animal  had  hccn  slain  tor  ainuscnu'nt.  and  that  his 
eavahy  was  not  well  trained  and  had  l)een  tossed  hy  the  hull,  he 
ofrew  irate,  and  alas!  to  spoil  our  little  orame  of  recreations  away 
in  front,  caused  an  order  to  he  issued  forhiddimr  all  hrin<r  on  the 
march,  unless  necessitated  by  the  ]iresenceof  the  enemy.  Hence- 
forth the  bulls,  deer,  and  jack  ral)bits  became  friendly  with  us, 
and  we  passed  them  by  in  silence. 

Nearly  every  day  small  aimed  parties  of  Mexicans  were  seen 
away  in  advance,  and  once  when  we  rode  to  a  small  pond  to  wa- 
ter our  horses  we  foimd  a  party  of  Mexican  lancers  watering 
theirs  also.  A  few  words  of  salutation  })assed.  when  they  moved 
on  and  disa})peared.  Once  they  set  the  ))rairie  on  tire,  and  we 
had  to  drive  throuo^h  the  leapino-  tlames  with  oui'  21ms  and  cais- 
sons filled  with  annnunition. 

On  the  lS>th  the  head  of  the  column  was  halted  and  went  into 
camp  alK)ut  three  or  four  miles  otf  the  stream  called  Ai-royo  Col- 
orado, to  wait  the  arrival  or  concentration  of  all  the  troops, 
about  four  thousand  in  numljer,  and  pre})aration  to  cross  was 
made  by  the  engineers.  On  the  morninir  of  the  2<)th.  our  bat- 
tery was  put  in  position  on  the  baidvs  of  the  river  where  the 
earth  had  been  cut  down  for  it  to  cross,  and  where  its  tire  could 
connnand  the  opposite  shore  and  cover  the  landing  of  the  infan- 
try. Notice  had  been  given  the  engincHM-  oflicer  by  the  Mexi- 
cans that  the  forces  on  the  Mexican  shore  were  under  positive 
orders  to  tire  on  any  of  our  troops  attempting  to  cross.  Again 
a  like  notice  was  sent  to  (uni.  Taylor,  and  a  pi-oclamation  that 
had  l)een  issued  by  (ien.  Mejia  a  day  or  two  past  was  handed  to 
him.  During  this  time  an  awful  din  was  made  on  the  Mexican 
side  by  bugle  calls  away  down,  and  fai-  up  tlu;  river,  and  kettle- 
drums and  fife  in  the  woods  in  front.  ()ui-  guns  were  loaded 
and  matches  lit  wlien  the  old  (icneral  gaxc  the  command  for  the 
infantry  to  cross.  The  head  of  the  columns  plunged  into  the  wa- 
tei',  holding  their  cartridge  boxes  and  muskets  high,  and,  land- 
ing, deployed  at  once  light  and  left.  ( )thei'  troops  crossed  above 
on  the  right,  and  when  all  moNcd  toiward  not  a  AFcxican  was 
seen. 

On  the  24th  w(^  ai'i'i\ cd  at  .'i  point  on  the  main   road   rmniing 


Ix   TIIH   I J  AND  OF  MoAli.  45 

fioin  Point  Isabel  to  Matainoras  wliicli  was  ten  miles  from  Point 
Isabel  and  a  like  distance  tVom  Matamoras.  (xen.  Worth  was 
directed  to  move  on  toward  the  Rio  (Trande  near  Matamoras 
with  the  infantry,  while  (ren.  laylor,  with  our  battery  and  the 
draiifoons.  went  down  to  meet  Maj.  Munroe  at  Point  Isabel,  where 
he  had  established  a  depot  of  supplies  for  the  array.  On  the 
2()th  (ien.  Taylor,  with  his  escort  of  cavalry  and  artilleiy,  joined 
the  main  body  under  Worth,  and  on  the  2Sth  the  ai-my  encamped 
on  the  ri\('r  bank  opposite  Matamoras. 

The  ariival  of  (ien.  Taylor  with  his  ainiy,  (|uietly  takiuo^  the 
position  he  did,  no  doubt  produced  some  t-onsternation.  Mexi- 
can infantry  was  seen  in  motion  in  the  city.  They  had  the  river 
l)icketed  and  battci'ies  placed  to  bear  on  our  camp. 

The  Mexican  commander  insisted  that  all  was  lovely,  and  that 
there  was  no  war;  that  tiie  acts  of  hostility  were  little  events — 
little  incidents — to  make  our  arrival  interestincr  and  pleasant. 
That  the  C^onsul  for  the  Tnited  States  in  Matamoras  was  free, 
and  a  gfentleman  of  leisure,  but  that  (Ien.  Taylor  could  not  in- 
terview him  without  permission  from  the  C'onnnandante. 

Notwithstandin<J:  ""the  distini>-uished  consideration  ''  and  ati'ec- 
tionate  regard  expressed  in  the  conmiunicati(ms  for  the  Ameri- 
canos, (xen.  Taylor  concluded  to  j)ut  up  some  field  Avorks  or  for- 
tifications out  of  courtesy  to  those  beino^  constructed  by  the 
Mexicans.  We  were  in  the  land  of  ^Nloal),  and  the  promised 
land  was  on  the  other  side.  There  was  the  city  embowered  in 
careen  folia<J:e,  with  tr()])ical  j)lants  around  the  white  houses,  and 
there,  wIumi  the  sun  was  declinin<r.  would  assemble  the  female 
population  to  see  and  to  be  seen,  and  listen  to  the  nuisic  of  the 
various  bands.  "Dixie""  was  not  then  born,  the  "l^onnie  Blue 
Fla^r'had  not  then  been  waved;  and  weplayc(l  •"Yankee  Doodle" 
because  itmadea  loud  noise,  the  "Stai'-Span<>:le(lP)anner*'  because 
it  waved  over  us,  "  Hail.Colmnbia"  because  it  was  inspiriting-,  and 
the  sweetest  airs  from  the  operas  for  the  beautiful  senoritas  with 
the  rebosas  that  disclosed  the  sweet  faces  they  were  designed  to 
hide.  The  music  from  the  othei'  side  I  camiot  recall  now,  only 
it  rose  with  a  "' voluptuous  swell"  that  floated  over  the  water 
and  died  away  softly  in  the  distance  with  the  breath  that  made 
it.  And  all  the  while  on  our  side  the  shore  was  lined  with  otli- 
cers  and  soldiers  enjoyinir  the  scene  l)efore  them — that  had  a 
short  existence. 


46  Tiro  Wars. 

"\\u\)udu\  has  cornel  Ampudia  has  coiiio!''  was  horalde<l  l)y 
eveiy  ^Nloxioau  that  came  into  our  camp  vendino:  the  pioducts  of 
the  farms.  And  so  it  was.  He  came  clothed  in  modesty,  and 
made  a  disphiy  of  it  immediately  by  lending  a  dispatch  on  the 
I'Jth  ordering  Gen.  Taylor  to  get  out  of  his  camp  in  twenty-four 
liours,  and  not  to  stop  on  this  side  of  the  Nueces.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve Taylor  was  much  acquainted  with  fear,  because,  instead  of 
"folding  his  tents  like  the  Arabs,  and  silently  stealing  away/' 
he  had  the  audacity  to  remain  just  where  he  was  until  the  twen- 
ty-four hours  had  expired,  and  long  after. 

About  this  time  Col.  Cross,  of  the  (|uartcriuaster"s  depart- 
ment, was  murdered  by  some  one  and  his  l)()dy  thrown  in  the 
chaparral.  I  was  with  a  party  of  officers  that  was  riding  up  the 
river,  not  expressly  in  search  of  Col.  Cross's  body,  some  seven 
or  eight  days  after  he  was  misse<l,  and  we  observed  some  vul- 
tures resting  in  an  old  tree  top.  I  rode  in  toward  them,  and  saw 
a  blue  coat  on  the  groimd.  It  was  Col.  Cross's,  and  some  of  his 
remains  were  there.  They  were  afterwards  gathered  up  and 
cared  for  properly.  One  of  the  parties,  a  detachment  of  dra- 
goons, sent  in  search  of  Cross's  body  got  into  a  figlit  Avith  the 
Mexicans  and  Lieut.  Porter  Avas  killed:  and  yet  there  was  no 
war  ? 

And  now  a  greater  than  Ampudia  had  aj-rivc^l.  and  on  the  li-tth 
of  April  Gen.  Arista  assumed  connnand  of  the  Mexican  army 
now  encam])ed  in  and  around  the  city,  and  he  informed  Taylor 
that  he  considered  hostilities  commenced,  and  had  "let  slip  the 
dogs  of  wai'."'  The  enemy  was  now  repoitcd  to  have  crossed  to 
our  side  in  large  numbers,  and  parties  wei'e  sent  out  to  make 
reconnoissances.  one  of  wdiicli  was  captured  by  the  Mexicans; 
jind  (':i))ls.  Thornton  and  llardcc  wci'c  now  |)ris<niei's  of  war. 


C  II  AFTER  V. 

Arista  iiiid  Mis  Cavalry  -United  Statos  Excited — Two  Hundred  Thousand 
Men  Offer  Their  Services — ('ongress  Dechires  "War  Existed  by  the 
Acts  of  the  Mexican  Republic  "Taylor  Marches  to  Point  Isabel — Bom- 
ijardment  of  Fort  Brown — Capts.  May  and  Walker — Taylor  Marches 
for  Matamoras — Battle  of  Palo  Alto — Victory — ^Arista  Falls  Back  to  Re- 
saca — Battle  of  Resaca — Capture  of  Enemies'  Batteries — ('apts.  Maj^  and 
Hidgely— (Jen.  La  Vega  Captured — His  Sword  Presented  to  Taylor — 
Duncan  and  Ridgely  Pursue  the  Enemy — I  Capture  La  Vega's  Aid — 
Col.  Mcintosh — Hide  over  the  Field  of  Palo  Alto — Death  of  Lieuts. 
Chadburne  and  Stevens — We  take  ))ossession  of  Matamoras — Gen. 
Twiggs  appointed  Governor — Twiggs  and  Jesus  Maria — Arrival  of 
(iens.  W.  ().  Butler.  Robert  Pattei-son,  Pillow,  and  others — Promoted  to 
Second  Lieutenant — Officers  of  the  Companj^ — March  to  Camargo — 
Thence  to  Monterey — Seralvo — Arrival  at  Monterey. 

AND  now  Arista,  on  the  part  of  the  Mexican  o^overnnient, 
havin<r  dechired  that  war  existed;  and  some  of  our  forces, 
both  men  and  officers,  haviiitr  been  killed  or  captured,  the  pony  ex- 
press carried  this  news  to  the  city  of  New  Orleans;  and  as  there 
was  no  telejifraph,  it  spread  all  over  the  country  and  became  mag- 
nitied  like  ""the  three  black  crows."  The  apprehension  that  we 
were  cut  otf  from  communicating  with  home  by  Arista's  army 
occupying  a  position  between  us  and  Point  Isabel  was  wide- 
spread, and  impromptu  meetings  held  for  volunteers  to  go  to  the 
relief  of  our  army,  and  thousands  responded  to  the  call.  Con- 
gress was  in  session,  and  it  promptly  declared  that  '*  war  existed  by 
the  acts  of  the  Mexican  Republic,"  and  authorized  the  President 
to  accept  into  service  iifty  thousand  volunteers.  As  over  two 
hundred  thousand  men  ottered  their  services,  it  may  l)e,  as  Mark 
Twain  once  observed,  that  many  persons  "  persuaded  their  wives' 
j-clations"  to  avail  themselves  of  this  miique  occasion  to  visit  the 
land  of  the  Aztecs,  and  enjoy  balmy  breezes  under  the  shade  of 
the  acacia,  the  l)amboo,  and  the  pomegranate,  with  transporta- 
tit)n  free.  In  the  meantime  we  w^ere  in  blissful  ignorance  that 
we  were  in  such  danger,  and  did  not  know  it  until  our  friends 
came  to  our  relief. 

When  Ari.sta  landed  a  part  of  his  force  on  oiu'  side  of  the 
river,  it  was  put  in  the  field  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Torre- 
jon.  and.  ))eing  cavalry,  had  gained  possession  of  the  road  lead- 


48  Tm'o  Wahs. 

iii<r  to  Point  Isabel,  thus  cuttinjr  oti'  all  the  creature  comforts 
that  we  daily  enjoyed.  If  it  did  not  atiect  our  pocUets.  it  cur- 
tailed the  duties  of  owY  chef  de CXI inni\  and  diminished  the  pleas- 
ures of  the  table.  In  plain  Ensflish,  rations  were  jrt'ttinir  short. 
and  the  less  we  had  to  eat  the  haider  we  worked  on  the  fort  and 
other  defenses. 

May  Day.  when  our  friends  were  inhalinsr  the  fi-airrance  of  the 
bloom  of  the  peach  ai^d  cheriy,  the  rose  and  the  violet,  and 
children  were  dancing'  around  the  maypole,  Nve  were  strikinof 
our  tents,  packinc:  up  •'tra])s."  burnin<r  letters.  ])rei)arator\Mo 
leavinof  for  Point  Isabel.  A  mockino-  l)ird  that  would  sit  on  the 
ridcrepole  of  my  tent  and  sing  to  me  daily,  and  warble  sweet 
notes  ])y  moonlight,  now  sat  on  the  fence  adjoining  and  sung  a 
parting  song,  for  1  never  saw  him  again,  and  it  tilled  my  heart 
with  sadness.     Sing  on,  dear  bird:  I  hear  thee  now  I 

The  Seventh  Regiment  of  Infantry.  Bragg's  company,  or  bat- 
tery, and  a  company  of  foot  artillery  were  left  in  the  fort  under 
Maj.  Brown,  and  Gen.  Taylor  started  for  Point  Isabel,  where  our 
supplies  wei-c  in  store.  The  day  following  we  arrived,  and  I 
was  delighted  to  see  old  ocean  again.  Oui'  departure  sliouUI  not 
have  been  made  an  occasion  for  sensil)le  ])ers()ns  to  rejoice,  for 
did  we  not  trust  about  six  hundred  men  to  entertain  the  Mexi- 
cans during  our  absence^  and  thus  notify  them  that  we  purposed 
to  retui-n,  and  did  we  not  do  so^ 

*'And  I  have  loved  thee,  ocean,'"  and  I  love  thee  still,  and  I 
was  content  to  hear  thy  voice  again  and  be  near  thee:  but  life  is 
a  dream,  and  from  that  dream  I  was  awakened  at  dawn  on  the 
morning  of  the  -kl.  I  w'as  sleei)ing  on  the  groimd.  .V  dull  dis- 
tant sound  broke  on  my  ear.  1  rested  my  head  on  my  elbow,  and 
heard  nothing:  putting  my  ear  again  to  the  earth,  I  heard  the 
booml  booml  of  distant  cannon.  It  was  heard  by  others,  and 
so(ni  the  camp  was  astir.  It  was  now  certain  from  tiie  continu- 
ous sounds  that  Fort  Brown  was  being  lunnbarded.  Gen.  Tay- 
lor sent  out  Gapts.  May  and  Walker  to  comnumicate  Avith  Maj. 
Brown,  and  Walker  succeeded  in  getting  into  the  fort  and  re- 
turning. The  <lefense  of  Point  Isabel  was  to  l>e  intiMistcd  to 
Maj.  Muni'oe,  assisted  by  the  navy  in  command  of  Gonunodore 
Gomioi"  and  the  army,  now  i-educed  to  two  thousand  four  hun- 
dred men.  was  to  move  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison  in  Fort 
Brow  n. 


Facing  Arista.  49 

At)()iit  noon  on  llic  Ttli  this  little  force  started  to  meet  Arista, 
who  was  1k'1\V('(mi  us  and  Fort  Brown,  without  a  question  or  doubt 
of  o^ettini^  there.  althou<2;h  it  was  known  the  enemy's  force  num- 
bered about  eiofht  thousand  men.  It  was  near  noon  on  the  8th 
of  May  when  far  awav  over  the  l)roa(l  })rairie,  dimly  outlined, 
was  seen  a  dark  line  directly  in  front  of  us.  It  was  the  Mexi- 
can army  drawn  u|)  in  hattle  array  across  our  road  to  Matamo- 
ras.  When  we  arri\'ed  where  there  was  water  (Jen.  Taylor  halt- 
ed to  give  the  men  lime  to  till  their  canteens  and  to  have  a  little 
rest. 

Soon  the  lonir  roll  sounded,  hearts  beat,  ])ulses  kept  time,  and 
knees  trembled  and  would  not  be  still.  Our  line  was  formed  as 
follows:  the  tifth  infantry  (Col.  Mcintosh),  Ringgold's  battery, 
third  infantry,  two  long,  heavy  iron  eighteen  pounders,  fourth 
infantry,  and  two  scpiadrons  of  dragoons  posted  on  our  right, 
all  commanded  by  Col.  Twiggs,  formed  the  right  wing;  the  left 
was  a  battalion  of  foot  artillery,  Duncan's  I)attery,  and  eighth 
infantry.  In  some  respects  it  Avas  a  laughal)le  thing  to  see  the 
deployment  of  our  line,  of  which  the  Mexicans  were  quiet  spec- 
tators. Looking  back  from  where  we  came  into  battery,  which 
was  executed  in  a  half  mintite  and  in  advance  of  the  infantry,  I 
could  see  the  two  great,  long,  hesivy  iron  eighteen  pounders,  and 
the  white-topped  anununitiou  wagons  lumbering  along  to  get 
into  line,  drawn  ])y  a  team  of  twenty  oxen  each.  They  came 
into  line  by  words  of  conunand  not  laid  down  in  the  work  on 
tactics;  they  described  a  great  semicirt^le  at  the  conunands, 
"  Haw,  Buck!  haw,  Brindlel  whoa,  Brandyl ""  and  tinally  got  their 
muzzles  pointed  to  the  front.  If  we  had  had  elephants  in  place 
of  the  oxen,  it  would  have  l)een  more  ))icturesque,  and  presented 
a  tine  panorama. 

Arista  nnist  have  thought  he  had  performed  his  whole  duty 
when  he  barred  the  road  with  his  troops  to  prevent  Taylor  from 
advancing,  lie  had  heen  in  line  of  battle  all  the  morning  await- 
ing our  eoniing,  yet  he  penuifted  I's  to  depJoij  undisturbed.,  al- 
though we  were  in  easy  range;  of  his  giuis,  instead  of  assuming 
the  offensive  as  he  should  have  done.  With  a  courtesy  becom- 
ing a  knight  of  the  .Middle  Ages  he  permitted  Lieut.  Blake,  in 
the  presence  of  the  armies,  to  ride  down  to  within  musket  shot 
of  his  line,  to  dismount  and  survey  his  troops  through  his  glass, 
then  to  remount  and  ride  along  down  his  front  without  allowing- 
4 


50  Tiro  W.4KS. 

a  shot  to  be  tired  at  him.  As  tiiis  rccoiinoissaiR-e  had  iiiimaski'd 
his  artillery,  he  ran  his  oims  to  the  tVoiit.  and  the  artillery  on 
l)oth  sides  eonuneneed  tirinof.  My  rank  assiirned  me  to  the  duty 
of  sittinor  on  my  horse  to  look  at  the  tiofht  and  wateh  the  euis- 
soiis.  Presently  a  small  shell  ciime  alonir  and  striiek  the  driver 
of  the  lead  horses.  The  shell  entered  his  l)ody  after  earryinff 
aAvay  the  ix)mniel  of  his  saddle,  and  exploded  the  moment  it  left 
his  body,  as  fragments  of  it  wounded  his  horse  in  the  hip.  s])lit 
the  lip  and  tongue,  and  knoekedout  some  teeth  of  a  second  horse 
and  broke  the  jaw  of  Lieut.  Kidgely's  i)looded  mare.  That  was 
the  tirst  man  1  saw  killed  in  l)attle.  It  was  war.  but  it  was  not 
pleasant,  and  I  thought  it  was  no  place  foi'  me  to  sit  on  my  horse 
idle:  so.  dismounting.  I  gave  my  horse  to  a  horse  holder,  and 
Avalked  to  the  howitzer  on  the  right,  took  command  of  it,  and 
helped  work  it.  As  no  one  denuu'red  at  what  I  was  doing,  I  re- 
mained in  charge  of  it  all  day.  I  would  ])refer  to  take  my  rod 
and  line  and  go  fishing,  even  if  I  got  only  a  nibble,  than  to  sit 
still  on  a  horse  offering  myself  as  a  target  for  camion  balls.  To 
have  a  hand  in  the  fray  is  quite  anothei-  matter. 

I  shall  not  describe  this  battle.  It  was  almost  and  altogether 
an  artillery  tight.  Once  the  "Mexican  cavalry  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery  under  Torrajon  made  a  detour  to  our  right  with  a 
view  of  turning  it,  or  capturing  oui-  wagon  train.  This  move- 
ment was  defeated  by  the  Fifth  Infantry  and  two])ieces  of  artil- 
lery being  sent  to  meet  it.  The  infantry  formed  in  square,  and 
when  the  Mexican  cannon  Avere  being  loaded  to  fire  on  the  square, 
Ridgeh^  and  I  came  up.  and  so  qiiirl-hj  did  we  bi-ing  our  guns 
into  action  that  weunliml>ered,  loaded,  and  tired  before  the  ^Jex- 
icans  could:  in  fact  they  did  not  tire  a  cannon  shot.  i)ut  retreated 
drnrhj  back  whence  they  came.  Why  they  moved  so  doggedly 
slow  under  tire  1  could  not  tell:  })erhaps  it  was  Mexican  ])iide. 
Not  long  after  this  Maj.  Ringgold,  while  sitting  on  his  horse, 
was  struck  with  a  cannon  shot,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died. 
Maj.  Ringgold  was  an  accomplished  officer  and  an  elegant  gen- 
tleman, and  his  loss  was  a  source  of  universal  regret.  Licnt. 
Ridgely  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  battery.  The  tiring 
cea.sed  about  dusk.  Our  loss  was  only  ten  killed  and  forty-four 
wounded.  Arista  stated  liiat  his  loss  was  two  iumdrcd  and  fifty- 
three.  They  turned  theii-  gims  on  our  batteries:  we  tired  at  their 
infantry  as  instructed.     During  the  night  .\rista  fell  back  to  a 


F/i.-ixc  .17'  Smoki:.  51 

strono:  position  on  the  l)ank.s  of  a  dry  hod  of  a  stream  about  thirty 
yards  wide  called  Resaca  de  hi  Pahna.  It  runs  throiio^h  a  wood 
with  a  dense  undergrowth  of  chaparral,  the  woods  on  either  side 
being  perhaps  a  mile  wide.  Fioiii  the  prairie  on  which  the  bat- 
tle of  Palo  Alto  had  been  fouirht  the  road  enters  the  woods  that 
border  the  Resaca,  crosses  it,  and  leads  on  to  Matamoras. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  Taylor  sent  Capt.  McCall 
with  about  two  hundred  men  in  advance  to  discover  the  position 
of  the  enemy.  He  found  them  in  force  at  Resaca,  returned,  and 
so  reported  to  the  general  commanding. 

There  have  l)een  men  vfho (•rpufe occnf<l()n.sim(\ii\n.\\  themselves 
of  the  circumstances  arising  therefrom;  but  man  generally  is  the 
creature  of  circumstance,  and  I  mention  this  because  it  has  an 
application  to'^persons  who  were  engaged  in  this  day's  battle. 
Fi"om  Gen.  Taylor  down  no  one  in  this  army  had  had  much  prac- 
tical experience  in  the  arf  of  war,  and  from  practice  knew  but 
little  of  the  peculiar  province  of  each  arm  of  the  service. 

Because  the  artillery  rendered  such  signal  service  on  the  tield 
yesterday  Gen.  Taylor  was  impressed  with  the  idea  that  it  was 
available  for  pursuit  of  cavalry  in  mountain  passes,  for  storm- 
ing entrenchments,  or  charging  a  line  of  battle.  Plaving  discov- 
ered the  position  of  the  enemy,  the  General  had  the  trains  parked 
on  the  prairie  and  left  in  charge  of  a  battalion  of  foot  artillery 
and  the  two  eighteen  pounders.  May's  dragoons  were  held  in 
reserve  on  the  prairie  near  where  the  road  enters  the  woods. 

These  arrangements  completed,  our  Ijattery,  now  under  the 
command  of  Ridgely,  was  ordered  to  advance,  take  the  road 
through  the  woods  and  chaparral,  and  attack  the  enemy.  Here 
then  was  the  singular  tactics  of  a  battery  of  horse  artillery  all 
alone,  leaving  the  entire  army  l)ehind,  moving  down  the  road 
through  the  woods  without  any  support  whatever.  Capt.  Walk- 
er was  our  guide.  He  and  I  and  Ridgely  were  in  advance.  We 
had  gone  half  a  mile  or  more  when  crash  through  the  tree  tops 
came  a  shot  from  the  unseen  batteries  in  front.  "At  a  gallop, 
march,"  was  the  order,  and  on  we  went  until  the  road  turned  to 
the  left  about  forty-five  degrees.  At  the  turn  we  halted,  and 
this  gave  us  a  battery  front  (in  part)  to  their  guns  near  the 
bank  of  the  dry  river.  We  could  not  see  their  guns,  nor  they  see 
ours,  owing  to  undergrowth,  but  the  guns  were  discharged  at  the 
smoke  that  each  other  made.     We  kept  advancing  "l^v  hand" 


TLAN  OF  liATTLP:  OF  KKSACA,  MEX. 

Fought  May  9,  1846. 

1.  Kidfrcly'sguiis  when  he  callod  for    4.   United  Slates  infantry  moving  to 

May's  dragoons  to  capture  Mex-  attack. 

ican  Battery.  5.  May's  dragoons  pi"evious  to  the 

2.  Position    of    Kidgely    after     the  charge. 

chai'ge.  (>.   Reserve. 

3.  Position  of  Mexican  battery  when    7.  Mexican  infantry. 

eaptni-ed.  8.  Mexican  cavalry. 

9.  Mexican  artillerj'. 


Res  AC  A.  53 

down  the  road.  Their  skirmishers  now  ])e<ran  to  annoy  us.  Ridofe- 
ly  came  to  me  and  said:  '"Go  to  Gen.  Taylor  and  ask  him  to 
send  some  infantry  supports."  I  got  on  my  horse  and  galloped 
back  up  the  road  at  full  speed,  met  Gen.  Taylor,  Maj.  Bliss,  and 
other  staff  officers  in  the  road,  and  delivered  the  message.  The 
reply  was:  "The  infantry  has  been  deployed  and  will  soon  be 
there.''  I  returned  at  a  run.  No  one  was  to  be  seen  any- 
where. We  had  now  been  fighting  the  enemy's  guns  alone 
for  more  than  a  half  hour,  and  had  driven  them  from  off  the 
plain  into  the  ravine  or  dry  bed  of  the  river,  and  had  obtained 
possession  of  an  open  camping  ground  directly  in  front  of  their 
pieces  and  not  over  a  hundred  yards  distant.  Again  Ridgely 
came  and  said:  "Go  to  Gen.  Taylor  as  quick  as  possible,  and 
tell  him  to  seiid  me  assistance  to  capture  the  Mexican  batteries 
in  front  of  us."  The  road  and  also  the  woods  on  both  sides 
were  now  full  of  our  infantry  moving  forward.  I  soon  met  Gen. 
Taylor,  delivered  the  message,  adding:  "General,  their  guns  are 
just  in  om-  front  and  can  be  taken."  His  only  answer  was:  ''''My! 
my!  G—d^  where  Is  J  fay!'  Ica/t^t  get  Jam  up!''''  *  Nothing  more 
was  said,  and  I  returned.  By  this  time  our  infantry  was  en- 
gaged with  the  enemy  on  the  right  of  the  road.  The  firing  was 
very  heavy.  I  had  been  back  with  my  gun  about  ten  minutes, 
when  down  the  road  came  May,  in  column  of  fours;  he  halted 
and  exclaimed:  "  Hello  I  Ridgely,  where  is  that  battery  (  I  am  or- 
dered to  charge  it."  Ridgely  said:  "Hold  on,  Charley,  till  I 
draw  their  fire,  and  you  will  soon  see  where  they  are.''  Our  guns 
fired,  and  theirs  replied.  Away  went  May  toward  the  Mexican 
guns,  and  our  guns  after  him  at  a  run.  We  came  up  to  them 
muzzle  to  muzzle,  only  theirs  were  below  the  ))anks  of  the  ravine 
and  ours  above.  May  had  swept  the  gunners  away  and  was  out 
of  sight  on  the  other  side  in  the  chaparral.  I  was  in  command 
of  the  twelve-pound  howitzer,  and  as  I  gave  the  order  in  battery, 
"Fire  to  the  front!"  a  Mexican  regiment  behind  some  earth- 
works in  the  ravine  and  on  the  other  side,  with  their  right  di- 
rectly in  front,  fired  a  volley.  Two  drivers  fell,  the  wheel 
locked  the  gun  in  turning,  a  horse  fell,  and  it  was  with  difficulty 
we  could  unlimber.     I  said  to  the  sergeant,   "Run  for  a  canis- 

*The  inference  is  that  Gen.  Taylor  ordered  May  up  on  the  receipt  of 

Ridgely's  first  message. 


54  Ti\<)  M'aJi-s. 

ter;"  l»iit  before  he  sfol  iKick  a  irnniici-  slipped  in  a  shell,  and  on 
top  of  that  ill  went  the  eanistei'.  I  could  not  prevent  it,  so  threat 
was  the  din  of  muskets.  1  tired  the  <jcm\  myself.  The  wheels  were 
lifted  from  the  trround.  Two  more  eanisters  were  lireU  before 
the  i-eo^iment  l)roUe;  but  at  that  moment  our  infantry  opened  on 
them,  and  all  was  over  in  our  immediate  front.  The  seeoud  <run 
had  horses  killed,  drivers  and  men  shot,  and  it  loeked  a  wheel 
in  the  same  Avay.  Ridorely  sprang  from  his  horse  and  leaped  into 
the  dead  driver's  saddle,  straiofhtened  the  team,  and  that  ofun 
eame  into  aetion.  What  the  other  two  did  1  know  not.  Just  as 
our  tiring  eeased  up  rode  Gen.  Taylor  with  his  stafl",  and  com})li- 
mented  us.  As  he  sat  there  on  his  horse  ]\Iay"s  men  betjan  to 
come  back.  A  sero^eant  came  up  tirst  and  reported  that  he  had 
captured  Gen.  La  Vega;  next  an  infantry  officer  came  and  re- 
ix)rted  La  Vega  was  his  prisoner:  and  then  May  returned  and, 
riding  u\)  to  (len.  Taylor,  drew  from  a  scabl^ard  a  sword.  Tak- 
ing it  liy  the  point,  he  presented  it  to  the  General  with  these 
words:  ''General,  I  have  the  honor  to  present  to  you  the  sword 
of  Gen.  La  Vega.  He  is  a  prisoner.''  It  was  gracefulh^  done. 
Taylor  looked  at  it  a  moment  and  returned  it  to  ^SJay.  While 
we  were  all  there  in  a  group  down  the  road  came  Duncan's  bat- 
tery and  crossed  the  ravine.  Ridgely  could  not  stand  that,  and 
said  to  me:  ''French  ask  the  General  if  we  cannot  cross  over 
too."  'J'he  reply  was:  "No,  you  have  done  enough  to-day." 
Ridgely  laughed,  saying.  "  I  can't  receive  orders  from  you;"  and 
away  he  went  with  the  guns  after  Duncan,  leaving  me  to  follow^ 
as  soon  as  I  repaired  the  damage  to  my  gun.  In  a  few  minutes 
I  crossed.  No  one  halted  me.  I  found  Duncan  tiring  away  to 
the  left  and  front,  where  it  was  reported  troops  were  retreat- 
ing. We  soon  moved  on.  At  this  time  1  saw  a  man  hiding  be- 
hind some  bushes  about  tAventy  yards  from  the  roadside.  I  went 
to  liim.  and  as  niy  knowledge  of  Sjianish  had  not  been  cultiva- 
ted, I  undcrlook  to  ask  him  his  rank  (seeing  he  was  an  officer), 
and  tried  to  say  to  him:  ■■;Tenient('  o  capitan  T'  It  must  have 
l)een  badly  i)ron()unced,  for  he  replied,  "Si,  senor,"  and,  suiting 
action  to  the  word,  he  i)ut  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and  handed  me 
a  biscuit.  .\t  that  moment  up  rode  Dr.  Harnes  and  ('apt.  Kerr, 
and  Barnes  exilaiincd:  ""Great  heavens!  French  asked  this  gen 
tleman  for  bread."  NO  doultt  the  officer,  who  was  an  aid  to  (Jen. 
La  Vega,  undei-sto(i(|  nic  to  say:  "  ;Tiene  usted  paii^"  (  "have  you 


Four  Buunw. 

any  lueuclf).  Huiues,  who  afterwards  became  siirtreoii  g'enera 
of  the  rnited  States  army,  declared  to  the  end  I  asked  that  «:en- 
lleman  for  bread,  and  ncNcr  failed  t<»  Icll  the  story  on  me  in 
company. 

Well,  on  we  went  for  over  four  miles  to  Fort  Brown.  What 
a  welcome  we  received  I  They  had  heard  the  sound  of  battle  on 
the  8th,  and  a^ain  on  the  l>th,  and  had  seen  the  Mexicans  cross- 
ing the  river  in  crreat  haste  and  confusion.  Great  was  the  com- 
motion in  ^Nlatanioras  that  night.  Now  when  darkness  came, 
liidofely  remembered  that  he  had  come  on  without  orders — in 
fact,  pretty  nearly  against  orders — and  he  told  me  to  ride  back 
and  see  Gen.  Taylor  and  ask  for  orders.  So  I  rode  back  over 
the  road  alone.  Gen.  Taylor  was  glad  to  hear  from  the  garri- 
son; said  Ridgely  could  remain  on  the  Rio  Grande  until  further 
orders.     J.  Bankhead  Magruder  *  was  at  iieadquarters,  and  de- 

*Geii.  John  Bankhead  Magruder  was  known  in  earlier  days  as  "'Prince 
Jolin."  When  stationed  on  the  Canadian  frontier  the  British  officers  and 
ours  were  on  good  social  teruis.  John  was  indeed  a  princelj^  fellow,  and 
the  officers  at  his  mess  dined  always  in  a  ricOi,  gay  dinner  jacket.  His  serv- 
ant was  Irish  and  a  jewel,  and  knew  well  "Prince  John's"  foibles.  One 
day  at  dinner,  to  which  some  English  offi(;ers  were  guests,  there  was  a  con- 
siderable display  of  taste,  and  one  of  them  had  the  temeritj^  to  ask  his  host 
what  Avas  the  pay  of  a  lientenant  of  artillery,  and  obtained  for  an  answer: 
■'Well,  bless  you,  my  dear  fellow.  I  do  not  i-emember;  my  servant  always 
gets  it.  What  is  it,  Patrick?"  And  Pat.  well  knowing  the  ways  of  Ma- 
gruder, replied:  "Your  honor  must  perceive  the  captain  is  a  gintleman, 
and  too  ginerous  to  ask  me  for  it." 

When  the  citj'  of  Mexico  was  captured  l)y  Gen.  Scott  "Prince  John" 
(obtained  quarters  in  the  ljishoj)'s  palace.  Sending  for  the  butler,  he  asked 
him:  "At  what  hour  does  the  bishop  dine'.'"  Answer:  "FourP.M."  "How 
many  courses  does  he  have?"  Answer:  "Four.'"  "How  manj^  bottles 
of  wine  does  he  order.' ■■  Answer:  "Two."  i'o  impress  the  butler  that  he 
was  an  officer  of  high  tlignitj',  he  gave  orders  that  he  would  dine  at  8  p..m. 
and  require  eight  courses  and  four  bottles  of  wine,  doubling  the  courses, 
etc. 

And  here  is  another  stoiw  I  will  relate  as  I  heard  it: 

After  the  l)attles  around  Hichmond  had  been  fought  Gen.  J.  B.  Magru- 
der was  sent  to  command  the  I)(>partment  of  Texas.  As  I  have  formerl}'' 
related,  he  was  a  bon  vivani  and  rejoiced  in  the  pleasures  of  the  table,  and 
dined  with  much  ceremony.  To  keeiJ  this  up,  as  far  as  he  could,  he  would 
send,  like  the  popes  of  Rome,  a  courier  in  advance  to  arrange  for  his  com- 
fort. On  one  occasion  a  staff  officer  was  sent  ahead  as  usual.  Coming  to 
a  good  residence,  he  arranged  for  comfortable  (juarters  and  a  sumptuous 
sui)))er.      W'lieii  tile  (ieiieral  arrived  and  the  usual  preliniinarii'S  wereover 


56  7' no  Wahs. 

clared  it  was  very  impi-udent  for  me  to  return  l)v  myself,  and 
insisted  that  he  should  send  me  under  the  protection  of  an  es- 
rorl.  I  accepted  two  men,  but  as  they  were  not  mounted,  the 
l)ro,irress  was  too  slow.  I  dismissed  them  and  oralloped  hack 
safely.  Duncan,  who  was  an  ambitious  man,  was  much  disap- 
pointed that  he  never  <rot  si^rht  of  the  enemy  on  the  9th:  but  it 
is  true,  history  to  the  contrary  notwithstandinir. 

You  now  have  the  true  history  of  the  circmnstances  that  led 
]May  to  be  sent  to  charji^e  that  battery;  it  ori<2:inated  in  the  brain 
of  Ridofely.  Duncan,  who  was  not  in  tlic  action,  was  made  a 
brevet  major  for  Palo  Alto,  and  lieutenant  colonel  ^or  Rexaai. 
Ridofely,  who  was  distino-uished  for  his  gallant  conduct  in  ])oth 
l)attles,  was  rewarded  only  with  a  brevet  captaincy,  which  he 
declined,  for  the  two  battles.  Capt.  May  was,  if  I  remember 
ari<rht,  rewarded  with  two  brevets  without  any  distin2:uished 
service,  or  special  service  at  all  in  the  lirst  battle.  There  is 
nothinof  like  blowing  a  horn  and  having  friends  at  court.  1 
mention  this  without  any  rejection  on  those  two  good  soldiers, 
and  reference  is  thus  made  to  point  out  that  true  service  and  just 
merit  does  not  always  meet  with  its  proper  reward.  Such  is  the 
way  of  the  world. 

The  conduct  of  our  troops  in  this  battle  was  coiu-ageous  in  the 
extreme.  Banners  were  captured  by  gallant  old  officers  from  the 
liands  of  the  enemy  and  held  aloft  in  the  front  during  the  con- 
flict that  was  in  some  instances  hand  to  hand.  And  yet  the  loss 
would  not  indicate  such  resistance,  for  our  killed  were  only  thir- 
ty-nine, and  the  wounded  about  eighty.*     It  certainly  shows  less 

lie  was  ushered  into  tlie  dining  hall,  and  tliere  sat  at  the  table  a  ragged 
••  Keb  ■'  helping  himself  to  the  supper  all  alone.  Magruder,  however,  took 
liis  seat  at  the  table,  and,  eying  the  "  lleb  "  demolishing  the  viands,  he  ex- 
claimed: "Do  you,  sir,  know  with  whom  you  are  eating  supper?"  "Reb" 
replied:  "No,  I  don't  knoAv,  and  1  doni  cni-e  a  d — mn;  before  I  went  into 
the  army  I  was  very  particular  as  to  whom  I  ate  with,  but  it  makes  no 
<lifference  now;  just  helj)  yourself,  do. 

*  Riding  over  the  battlefield  the  day  after  the  fight  we  came  to  the 
camp  where  the  surgeons  were  attending  to  the  wounded.  A  German 
])risoner  was  there  slandi)irj  /ip,  holding  on  to  the  limb  of  a  tree  resting 
himself,  he  had  been  shot  crosswise  in  the  rear,  the  ball  tearing  away 
the  seat  of  his  breeches,  that  were  very  bloody.  One  of  our  Jris/i  soldiers 
was  passing  b}'  with  canteens  filled  with  water,  and  the  (Jerman  asked 
for  a  drink.     Pat  surveyed  him.  and  replied:  "Never  :i  drop  of  wather 


Cross fxr;  tiii:  Uivkh.  57 

stiil)l)()ni  resistance  on  the  pnit  of  the  Mexieuns  than  was  found 
in  th(^  eivil  way.  CJol.  Mcintosh  was  pinned  to  the  eai'th  with 
bayonets,  one  entej'ini*-  his  nioutli  and  passing  thi'ou*i-h  his  neck; 
he  was  rescued,  and  lived  only  to  cive  his  life  foi'  his  country  at 
Molino  del  Key.  The  day  followinir  was  spent  in  l)uryin^  the 
dead  and'carin<2f  for  the  wounded,  and  in  an  exchange  of  prison 
ers.  Our  battery,  with  some  infantiv,  constituted  an  escort  for 
the  prisoners  to  Point  Isabel.  On  the  way  tliere  I  rode  over  the 
field  of  Palo  Alto.  I  saw  a  nund)er  of  the  dead  that  had  not 
been  buried.  The  flesh  of  the  Americans  was  decayed  and  gone, 
or  eaten  l)y  wolves  and  vultures;  that  of  the  Mexicans  was  dried 
and  uncorrupted,  which  I  attribute  to  the  nature  of  their  food, 
it  being  antiseptic.     I  observed  this  also  at  Monterey. 

Again  I  was  where  I  could  see  the  w  ild  waves  of  ocean  play 
and  come  tumbling  on  the  shore;  but  like  most  pleasures  it  was 
short,  for  we  were  soon  on  the  march  back  to  Fort  Brown. 

If  we  remendjer  that  Taylor  had  been  given  twenty-four  hours, 
out  of  distinguished  consideration  for  his  character,  to  get  away 
from  before  Matamoras,  or  take  the  consequences,  and  was  so 
impolite  in  not  obeying;  and  if  we  consider  that  when  we  did 
leave  it  was  regarded  as  a  flight;  and  if  we  call  to  mind  the  re- 
joicings of  the  people  that  we  had  tied,  we  can  in  a  measure  real- 
ize the  sudden  change  from  high  hopes  to  despondency,  from 
expected  joy  to  overwhelming  sorrow  when  they  saw  their  sol- 
diers returning,  not  with  captured  flags  and  the  spoils  of  war, 
not  with  waving  barmers  and  triumphant  shouts  of  victory,  but 
fleeing  when  no  one  pursued,  and  madly  plunging  into  the  river 
to  gain  the  shore  which  they  lately  left  with  expectations  not 
realized. 

On  the  10th  we  stood  on  our  ])ank  of  the  river,  the  other  shore 
so  near  and  yet  so  far!  An  army  Avith  no  pontoon  train!  no 
bridge  W' hereon  to  cross  a  deep,  narrow  river!  Where  w^as  the 
gi-eat  organizer  that  makes  war  successful^  For  one  week  the 
troops  remained  in  front  of  the  city  unable  to  cross  for  the  want 
of  adequate  means. 

On  the  18th,  when  the  advanced  squadron  of  dragoons  \vas 
swimming  across  the  river,  Lieut.  George  Stevens  was  drowned. 

will  ye  get  from  me,  ye  bloody  hatheti.  If  ye  had  stayed  in  your  own 
countliry,  where  you  belong,  ye  would  now  be  well  and  have  a  sound  seat 
to  sit  down  on." 


58  Tn<>  W'.i Rs. 

Balance  such  a  man's  lite  with  the  cost  of  a  pontoon  bridge! 
Two  of  niv  classniates,  hravc  inen,  were  now  released  from  war. 
T.  Jj.  Chadhourn  was  killed  at  Resaca,  and  now  Stevens  drowned! 
hoth  men  dear  to  me.      I  saw  poor  Stevens 

■•Bfiil  llic  siirocs  iiiidcr  liini.  and  ride  U])n\\  tlicir  Ijafk." 

then  sink  and  rise  no  more. 

We  crossed  the  river  unmolested,  and  took  possessicm  of  the 
town.  Oen.  Twiofors  was  appointed  orovernor  of  the  place,  and 
under  his  police  system  perfect  order  was  maintained.  Many 
pleasant  families  remained  and  to  some  of  us  a  cordial  welcome 
was  ^iven  at  all  times. 

My  time  w^as  passed  pleasantly  in  the  city  during  the  months 
of  June,  July,  and  part  of  Auo:ust.  Our  battery  was  in  camp 
near  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Twiirgs.  A  path  leadino^  to  the 
city  passed  close  in  front  of  his  olHce  tent,  and  many  })ersons 
went  to  and  fro. 

One  day  I  was  sitting  with  the  (reneral.  It  was  a  beautiful 
afternoon.  We  were  under  the  shade  of  some  trees,  and  soldiers 
and  strangers  passing  by  so  near  would  salute  or  otherwise  rec- 
ognize the  General.  However,  at  this  time  a  ^Mexican  came 
along  with  a  tall  sombrero  on  his  head  and  passed  without  no- 
ticing the  (leneral.  He  was  hailed  by  the  General,  came  back, 
and  was  asked:  "What  is  your  name?"  He  took  ofl'  his  som- 
brero politely,  and  answ^ered:  "Jesus  Maria."  Twiggs  raised 
both  hands  above  his  head  and  exclaimed:  "Go  away!  go  awaj^ 
from  me!  go  away!"  and  the  surprised  Mexican  passed  on.  1 
inferred  from  the  great  excitement  the  General  exhibited  at  the 
name  of  the  Mexican  that  his  ancestors  may  have  worshiped  in 
the  Temple  of  fJerusalem,  or  fought  with  the  ]Maccal)ees  in  de- 
fense of  their  religion. 

Whilst  the  forces  under  Taylor  were  resting  in  camj)  at  Mat- 
amoras,  the  (piartermaster's  department  was  busy  in  procuring 
light-draft  l)oats  to  navigate  the  Rio  (Jrande,  it  having  been  de- 
termined to  establish  a  depot  of  sujjplics  at  Camargo,  a  town  on 
the  i"iver  nearly  a  hundred  miles  abo\e  Matamoras.  pre))aratory 
to  an  adxance  on  Monterey. 

I'ndei'  the  act  calling  for  volimteers  there  were  ap|)ointcd  to 
command  them  two  major  genei'als.  W.  ().  Butlei-.  of  Kentucky, 
and  Kobeii  ralterson.  (if  I'eiin>\  I  \  ania  :  and  ( 1.  J.  Pillow,  of  'l\'n- 


LoADiXG  A  Mule  Thajx.  59 

nessee.  T.  L.  llaiiicr.  of  Ohio.  John  A.  Quitiiiiiii,  of  Mississippi, 
Thomas  Marshall,  of  Kt'iitiic-ky.  Josoj)!!  Lane,  of  Indiana.  James 
Shields,  of  Illinois,  were  commissioned  brio^adier  orenerals,  and 
men  to  the  number  of  near  six  thousand  were,  as  volunteers, 
added  to  Taylor's  force,  increasinir  it  to  nine  thousand. 

This  force  was  orirani/cd  into  three  divisions:  the  tirst  under 
Gen,  Twiofjrs.  the  second  under  (ien.  Worth,  and  the  third  im- 
der  Gen.  W.  ().  Butler,  who  was  with  (Jen.  Jackson  at  New  Or- 
leans when  lie  defeated  the  English  under  Pakenham.  Nearly 
fifty  years  after,  another  Butler,  Gen.  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  fig- 
ured at  New  Orleans,  and  I  woidd  not  that  you  mistake  them, 
for  they  were  one  to  the  other  as  "  Hyperion  to  a  satyr." 

In  June  I  was  promoted  to  the  hi^h  rank  of  second  lieutenant 
of  the  Third  Artillery,  and  sometime  durinof  the  suuuner  was  as- 
signed to  Bragg's  company  of  artillery,  whose  lieutenants  were 
George  II.  Thomas,  John  F.  Ileyuohls,  and  myself.  They  were 
all  agreeable  othcers,  but  even  to  this  day  I  recall,  like  a  wom- 
an, my  tirst  loves,  Ringgold,  Ridgely,  and  Shover. 

Early  in  August  the  iirst  division  started  for  Camargo.  It 
was  an  uninteresting  march,  hot  and  dusty  beyond  conception. 
By  the  middle  of  August  the  forces  started  for  ^Monterey.  We 
now  left  the  alluvial  lands  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  country 
was  free  from  dust.  From  Serai  vo  we  obtained  the  tu-st  view 
of  the  lofty  peaks  of  the  Sierra  ]Madre  range  of  mountains,  sev- 
enty odd  miles  distant,  and  they  created  much  discussion  as  to 
whether  they  were  mountains  or  clouds.  From  Serai  vo  to  M(m- 
terey  the  country  was  beautiful,  rich,  and  fertile.  ^^\'  passed 
groves  of  ehony,  Brazil  Avood,  oak,  pecan,  mesipiite,  etc.  The 
fields  of  corn  were  in  silk,  melons  and  vegetables  of  every  va- 
riety were  ripe;  and  later  on  in  the  season  wc  had  oranges,  lem- 
ons, limes,  pomegranates,  bananas,  and  grapes. 

One  morning  when  we  were  between  Serai \()  and  ^Nfarin  I  re- 
ceived an  order  to  remain  and  assist  Lieut.  D.  B.  Sacket  in  hav- 
ing the  mule  train  loaded.  I  thought  it  strange  that  an  artillery 
ofhcer  should  be  put  on  that  duty,  and  felt  indignant;  but  I  was 
repaid  in  a  measure  by  what  took  place,  for  I  sometimes  enjoy 
a  little  "fun."  After  the  muleteers  had  packed  the  old  trained 
mules  and  started  them  one  after  another  on  their  way,  there  re- 
mained a  number  of  wdld  mules  to  hav  e  their  packs  put  on,  I  be- 
lieve for  the  tirst  time.     One  was  lassoed  and  thrown  and  the 


60  Tuo  M'.i h's. 

\)iu-k  saddle  |Mil  on.  Tlu'ii.  t'oi-  his  load,  two  Wari'cls  of  crackers 
were  seeiiiely  put  on.  .VII  heinir  ready,  the  blind  was  removed 
from  bis  eyes.  He  looked  slowly  around,  showed  the  white  of 
his  eyes,  took  one  stej).  Iiiunped  himself,  and  kicked  so  hij^h  that 
tlie  load  over))alanced  him  and  he  fell  on  his  l)ack  unahle  to  rise, 
and  brayed  aloud.  Soon  a  blind  was  removed  from  another;  he 
surveyed  the  load  from  liirhl  to  left  with  rolling  eyes,  squatted 
low.  hum])e(l  himself.  si)ran<r  forwaid,  stood  on  his  forefeet  and 
commenced  high  kicking,  exploded  the  })arrels  of  "hardtack" 
Avith  his  heels,  thre^v  the  biscuit  in  the  air  with  tlu>  force  of  a 
dvnamite  l)oml).  and  ran  aAvay  with  the  empty  barrels  dangling 
behind,  as  badly  scared  as  a  dog  with  tin  l)uckets  tied  to  his  tail. 
A  third,  when  his  blind  was  removed,  stepped  lightly  to  the 
front,  but  casting  his  eyes  on  either  side,  made  a  loud  bray, 
closed  down  his  tail,  and  disappeared  through  the  chaparral  as 
quick  as  a  jack  rabbit,  followed  with  loud  Mexican  denunciations 
that  T  cannot  translate.  Tn  this  manner  four  or  tive  cargoes  were 
lost,  and  the  pack  train  moved  on.  I  was  sorry  for  the  poor 
Mexicans,  but  I  could  not  but  laugh  at  the  mules.  My  duty 
ended  when  the  train  started;  so  leaving  it  in  the  charge  of 
Lieut.  Sacket  with  his  dragoons,  I  rode  on  alone  and  did  not 
overtake  my  company  vmtil  it  had  encamped. 

We  arrived  at  iVIonterey  on  the  IMth.  The  dragoons  and  the 
two  batteries  of  lield  artillery  encamped  with  Gen.  Taylor  at  his 
headquarters  at  Walnut  Springs,  three  miles  from  the  city. 


CHAPTER  VJ. 

Moutorcy  -  l*()i)iil;ili()n^Gen.  Aiui)U(lia — (ieii,  Worrli — ('sipturc  a  P'ort — 
Batlory  in  a  Hot  Place — Brajj^g's  Order  (Jounterniaiulcd — Two  l^ong- 
Haired  Texans — Capture  tlie  Bisliop's  Palace — Our  Battery  Ordered  to 
the  East  P^nd  of  the  City— Gens.  Taylor  and  Quitman — Street  Fifjhting — 
Gen.  Ampudia  Surrenders — Gen.  Worth.  Gov.  Henderson,  and  Col. 
Jefferson  Dav'is  Commissioners — Enter  the  City — Dine  with  a  Mexican 
Gentleman — Death  of  Ridgcly — Hot  Springs — Santa  Anna  President- 
Victoria  Surrenders — Gen.  Scott — Vera  Cruz — Return  to  Monterey- 
Death  of  Lieut.  Richey— Investigation  of  Richey's  Death — Monterey 
— Saltillo — Agiia  Nueva — Gen.  Wool — Santa  Anna  Advances — Majs. 
Borland  and  Gaines  Captured — ^Taylor  Falls  Back  to  Bueua  Vista — Mex- 
ican Army — Am  Wounded — The  Hacienda — ('avalry  Fight  with  Mexi- 
can Lancers — Flag  of  Truce — Victory — Carried  to  Saltillo. 

MONTEREY,  an  old  city,  the  cai)ital  of  the  State  of  Nuevo 
Leon,  contained  about  forty  tliousand  inhabitants.  It  is 
situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  San  »Juan,  a  small  stream  that 
empties  into  a  laro^er  one  of  the  same  name. 

It  had  three  forts.  The  main  one,  called  the  Black  Fort,  was 
out  on  the  plain  north  of  the  city.  Fort  Tanaria  was  in  the  sub- 
urbs, in  the  northeast  part  of  the  city;  and  alxmt  two  hun- 
dred yards  distant  south  of  it  was  a  third  fort,  the  guns  of  which 
commanded  the  interior  of  the  Tanaria.  The  hill  on  the  slope 
of  which  was  the  l)ishop's  palace  was  also  fortified;  and  strong 
earthworks  surrounded  the  city  on  the  north  and  east  sides, 
with  isolated  works  to  the  south  and  west. 

Gen.  Ampudia  was  in  command,  with  a  force  of  seven  thou- 
sand regular  troops,  and  a  large  vokmteer  force.  A  reconnois- 
sance  of  the  place  by  the  engineer  officers,  having  been  com- 
pleted, dispositions  to  ca])tur(!  the  city  were  made  by  detaching 
Gen.  Worth,  with  his  division,  and  Col.  Hays,  with  his  Texas 
regiment,  to  gain  the  road  to  SaltiHo,  liy  storming  its  defenses, 
and  thereby  cutting  off  the  supplies  of  the  enemy  and  holding 
his  line  of  retreat.  To  accomplish  this  part  of  Gen.  Taylor's 
plan,  Worth  started  late  on  the  j?oth,  and  on  the  21st  made  the 
attack,  and  was  successful  in  carrying  the  detached  works  and 
securing  the  road  to  Saltillo.  By  way  of  (iirertUeinent^  or  at 
most  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Worth,  (len.  Taylor  moved  Gar- 
land's division  of  regulars  and  a  di\isi()ii  of   xolimteers,  some 


62  Two  ]]\4i!S. 

c-axalrv.  and  our  battery,  down  to  the  noitheast  partof  the  city. 
As  is  often  the  case,  this  demonstration  terminated  in  a  ii<rht, 
and  the  capture  of  the  fort  or  redoubt  called  Tanaria  and  build- 
ings adjacent.  Our  battery  penetrated  by  a  street  some  dis- 
tance into  the  city.  The  liouses  were  mainly  built  of  soft  stone 
or  adobe,  and  the  shot  from  the  batteries  in  the  town  passed 
through  the  buildings,  covering  the  men,  horses,  and  guns  with 
lime  and  dust,  blinding  us  so  that  we  could  see  nothing.  From 
this  situation  we  were  ordered  out.  In  passing  an  opening  in 
the  works  a  shot  killed  the  two  wheel  horses  to  one  of  the  cais- 
sons, and  Lieut.  Reynohls  and  T  with  the  mentlirew.  or  pushed, 
the  horses  and  harness  into  the  ditches  on  either  side,  and  after 
we  had  done  this  and  gone  some  distance,  another  shot  passed 
through  tw^o  horses  of  one  of  the  guns.  These  horses  were 
loosed,  and  with  their  entrails  dragging,  in  agony  of  pain,  1 
suppose,  commenced  eating  the  grass. 

Having  gotten  out,  Bragg  ordered  me  bac-k  alone  to  the  ditch 
in  the  edge  of  the  town  to  save  the  harness  that  was  on  the  horses. 
I  met  Gen,  Taylor,  who  inquired  where  I  was  going.  When 
tohl.  he  said.  '*  That  is  nonsense,"  and  ordered  me  to  go  to  camp, 
where  the  battery  had  been  sent.  My  ride  l)ack  was  rather  ex- 
citing. For  the  distance  of  a  half  mile  or  more  1  was  on  the 
plain  in  oi)en  sight  of  the  Black  Fort,  or  the  citadel.  The  gun- 
ners nuist  have  become  quite  vindictive,  for  they  opened  hre  on 
me,  a  lone  horseman.  I  had  to  watch  the  smoke  of  each  gun, 
check  my  horse,  and  as  the  shot  would  cross  ahead  push  on, 
.stopping to  allow  each  shot  to  pass  in  front.  1  think  the  smoke 
prevented  the  gunners  from  discovering  thai  1  halted  at  every 
discharge  of  a  gun.  At  any  rate,  every  shot  j)assed  in  fnmt  of 
me.  T  ne\er  forgave  J5ragg  for  that  picayune  ordei',  and  it  was 
supplctiiciitcd  on  the  23d  by  another  ecpially  as  wild.  As  we 
were  withdrawing  from  the  city,  we  had  to  go  u])  a  straight 
road  leading  from  a  four-gun  battery.  .\  shot  struck  a  driver 
on  the  elbow,  cari'ving  away  his  forearm.  lie  fell  </>"(/  h\nu 
his  horse,  singular  l)ut  true,  and  Hi-agg  directed  me  to  dismount 
and  take  ofl'  the  man's  sword.  I  did  so;  and  took  from  iiis  pock- 
et a  knife,  for  I  thought  I  iniglit  be  .sent  ))ack  if  I  did  not  save 
that  too.  I  j)resented  the  swoiil  to  lii-agL'".  and  desired  him  to 
take  charge  of  the  knife.  Itiit  he  (lcclinc(|.  as  it  was  not  />i//)//'r 
proi)erty.      I    wiitc  down  these  little  things,  for  they  gi\('  in- 


JLLiLLlI 

qqaQpDDDDr 


^■^A^i,  To-)-/-. 


\ 


**K-'- 


^ 


PLAN  OF  MONTEREY,  MEX. 


1.  Black  Fort. 
'I.  Fort  Tanaria. 
8.   Redoubt. 
4.  Main  Plaza. 


5.  French's  gun. 

6.  Thomas's  gun. 

7.  Bragg' s  battery — tirst  day. 

8.  United  States  troops   advancing 

on  Fort  Tanaria. 


()-J:  Two  Waes. 

stances  of  llie  observance  of  details.  chariU'lcrislic  of  this  ofli- 
cer.  not  obtained  from  history. 

The  day  followins:,  the  22d,  our  battery  was  ordered  to  oe- 
eLqn'.  in  reserve,  a  depression  in  a  phdn  north  of  the  citadel. 
Rut  they  knew  we  w^ere  there,  and  searched  for  us  Avith  shot. 
As  I  have  observed  already,  the  garrison  of  the  citadel  was  vin- 
dictive, and  fired  at  any  one  in  sight  and  range.  Sure  enough, 
soon  two  long-haired  Texans.  on  ])onies,  rode  downi  and  halted 
near  each  other,  on  the  plain,  and  we  watched  events.  Bang! 
went  one  of  the  heavy  guns  in  the  citadel;  the  ball  passed  over 
us  and  went  between  the  two  Texans,  One  wheeled  his  horse 
back  for  camp,  and  the  other  galloped  down  to  our  guns  and  re- 
marked: "  Them  darned  fool  Mexicans  shoot  mighty  wild:  they 
came  near  hitting  me."  He  thought  the  shot  was  directed  at  us, 
and  not  at  him. 

But,  to  return  to  more  im])ortant  i)roceedings.  Behold,  now 
a  glorious  sight! 

To  the  northwest  of  Monterey,  and  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city, 
there  is  a  very  high  hill  called  Independencia,  that  swells  ab- 
rui)tly  from  the  plain,  except  on  the  southern  slope,  which 
is  more  gentle.  On  this  slope,  about  halfway  up,  there  is  a 
massy  palace,  known  as  the  bishop's  palace.  It  was  fortified 
and  garrisoned,  and  the  summit  was  crowned  with  a  fort.  The 
capture  of  this  hill  was  necessary  because  it  commanded  the 
Saltillo  road  and  prevented  Gen.  Worth  from  entering  the  city. 
As  I  have  observed,  our  Imtterv  was  put  in  reserve,  and  we  were 
in  open  sight  of  the  hill  Independencia. 

Early  in  the  morning  when  the  fog  rose,  the  battery  on  Inde- 
pendencia hill  opened,  and  a  solitary  gun  responded  from  a  dis- 
tant one,  which  our  troops  had  captured  the  day  previous.  And 
now  the  base  of  Independencia  hill  was  encircled  in  smoke,  and 
almost  sinniltaneously  a  wreath  of  smoke  above  it  burst  into 
view.  The  attack  on  the  hill  with  infantry  had  begun.  Our 
men  could  be  seen  climbing  up  from  rock  to  rock,  and  the  smoke 
from  every  musket  indicated  whether  It  was  fired  i/j)  or  fired 
(/oi'))i,  the  hill.  Gradually  the  circles  of  smoke  moved  higher 
and  nearer,  as  our  men  ascended,  and  when,  near  the  top,  they 
commingled  into  one  the  excitement  was  intense.  Trooj)s  on 
both  sides  looked  on  in  silence,  wdth  hearts  throbl)ing,  now  with 
hope,  and  now  stilled  wdth  fear,  as  the  line  of  battle  advanced  or 


The  Bishop's  Palace.  65 

receded.  But  soon  it  was  seen  tlial  liiii-licr  u|)  the  hill  the  com- 
batants strniri2:lc(l,  until  with  one  wild  shout  and  rush  the  lines 
closed,  and  the  top  smoked  like  a  volcano.  And  then  through 
the  rit'ts  of  smoke  we  saw  our  men  leapin<r  over  the  parapets, 
and  the  Mexicans  retreatinc:  down  the  slope.  We  clap  our 
hands  with  joy,  and  wave  our  caps!  Now,  the  scene  changfes. 
From  out  the  bisho]i's  palace  swarms  of  men  issue  and  rush  up 
the  hill  to  retake  the  fallen  foi't.  They  are  met  halfway.  Our 
hearts  ai"e  hushed  as  we  look  on.  The  enemy  recede,  break  and 
run  for  the  palace,  where  foe  and  friends  commingled,  enter  to- 
gether, and  all  is  still.  A  heavy  gun  flashes,  and  a  shell  bursts 
over  the  city  from  a  captured  cannon.  The  flag  descends,  the 
stars  and  stripes  go  up  and  wave  over  the  bishop's  palace,  and 
thel)attle  is  won;  and  then  arose  a  shout  of  joy  so  loud,  so  long, 
it  seemed  to  echo  from  the  sky. 

There  was  not  nuich  progress  made  on  the  !^2d,  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  city,  except  to  gain  a  iirm  footing  on  the  edge 
of  it,  by  troops  under  Gen.  Quitman.  On  the  morning  of  the 
23d  our  battery  was  ordered  to  the  eastern  end,  and  remained 
inactive  while  the  infantry  steadily  advanced  from  house  to 
house.  The  dwelling  houses  all  had  flat  roofs,  surrounded  by 
walls  about  three  feet  high  forming  so  many  small  fortresses. 
The  house  t()i)s  were  tilled  with  the  enemy,  and  they  command- 
ed the  streets;  besides,  the  streets  leading  to  the  main  plaza  had 
been  barricaded,  and  they  crossed  others  at  right  angles.  Gen. 
Quitman,  a])Out  noon,  ordered  Bragg  to  send  a  piece  of  artillery 
to  drive  the  enemy  from  a  main  street  running  the  whole  length 
of  the  city.  To  my  surprise,  instead  of  sending  Lieut.  George 
H.  Thomas,  a  second  in  command,  he  ordered  me  with  the  twelve- 
pound  howitzer  to  report  to  Gen.  Quitman,  who  instructed  me 
to  clear  the  street. 

1  could  see  no  troops  in  this  street,  except  those  on  the  house 
tops  two  or  three  squares  in  advance:  so  I  moved  on  down  un- 
til the  musket  balls  began  to  clip  and  rattle  along  the  stone  pa^■e- 
ment  rather  lively.  To  avoid  this  tire,  1  turned  my  gun  to  the 
left,  into  a  street  leading  into  the  plaza.  To  my  astonishment, 
one  block  distant  was  a  stone  barricade  behind  which  were 
troo|)s,  and  the  houses  on  either  side  covered  with  armed  men. 
They  were  evidently  surprised,  aud  did  not  tire  at  us.  We  were 
permitted  to  unlimber  the  gun,  and  move  the  horses  back  into 


66  7'irci  ir.iA'.s'. 

the  main  street.  I  politely  waved  my  iiand  at  the  men  at  the 
harrieade.  whieh  should  read  1  shook  my  list  at  them,  and 
jrave  tlie  eommand  to  load.  Instantly  ti)e  muskets  were  leveled 
over  the  hai'iieade  and  pointed  down  from  the  house  to})s,  and 
a  \()lley  tired  at  us  that  rattled  like  hail  on  the  stones.  My  pony 
i.gf^i^^,i^-(i(^  a  rieoehet  musket  l)all  that  struek  the  slioulder  blade, 
ran  up  over  the  withers.  an(]  was  sto])ped  ]>v  the  o:irth  on  the 
other  side.  I  dismounted,  and  tui-ned  hack  to  the  i>un.  The  two 
men  at  the  muzzle  were  shot.  One  ])oor  t'elloAv  )>ut  his  hands 
to  his  side  and  ([uietly  said,  ''  Lieutenant.  I  am  shot."*  and  tried 
to  stop  the  How  of  blood.  1  had  the  a'un  run  l)ack  intothe  street 
by  which  we  entered  the  city.  I  now  resorted  to  a  device  once 
l>ractiee<l  by  a  mob  in  the  city  of  Piiiladelphia:  two  Ions:  ropes 
were  made  fast  to  the  end  of  the  trail,  one  rope  was  held  by 
men  on  the  lower  side  of  the  barricaded  street,  and  the  other 
]),y  the  men  above.  The  «run  was  now  loaded,  and  leveled  in 
safety,  then  pushe<l  out.  and  pulled  l)v  the  roi)es  until  it  pointed 
at  the  l)arricade,  and  then  tired.  The  recoil  sent  the  irun  ))ack, 
and  the  rope  brouofht  it  around  the  corner  to  l)e  reloaded.  In 
this  manner  the  ofun  was  worked  foi-  two  hours,  and  with  all  this 
protection,  four  out  of  the  five  ornnners  were  killed  or  wounded. 
AVe  had  not  been  at  this  cross  street  very  lon<»" before  Texans, 
Mississippians,  and  regulars  beofan  to  arrive  and  cross  under 
cover  of  the  smoke  of  the  gun  to  the  other  side,  and  irain  pos- 
session of  the  house  tops.  Next  (ien.  Taylor  and  stall'  came 
down  the  street  on  foot,  and  very  imprudently  he  passi-d  the 
cross  street,  escaping  the  many  shots  tired  at  him.  There  he 
was,  almost  alone.  lie  tried  to  enter  the  store  on  the  corner. 
The  door  being  locked,  he  and  the  Mexican  within  had  a  confal), 
but,  not  understanding  what  was  said,  he  called  to  Col.  Kinney, 

the  intei'pi'cter:  "'Come  over  here."     The  Colonel  said .  and 

went  over  at  double-quick,  and  made  the  owner  o|)cii  the  door. 
The  store  was  empty.  Here  (icn.  Quitman  joined  him  with  some 
troops  and  a  gvm  in  chai-ge  of  Lieut.  (J.  II.  Thomas.  Quitman 
directed  me  to  take  my  howitzer  down  to  the  next  cioss  street, 
but  tosave  my  men  and  hors(!s.  I  suggested  that  Thomas  should 
put  his  gun  in  position  lirst,  and  let  us  pass  oxer  through  the 
.smoke^  Comprehending  the  matter  at  once,  he  said:  *'  No.  you 
remain  here,  and  let  Thomas  ])ass  over  when  you  (ire.""  Thomas 
moved  to  tiie  next  street,  and  turned  his  gun  iido  it.     His  street 


CAi'irrLMiox.  67 

was  barricaded  also,  and  defended  by  a  piece  of  artillery. 
The  infantry  and  riHemen  now  made  <ro()d  proofress  in  o-ain- 
ing  possession  of  the  houses,  and  drivinof  the  enemy  toward 
the  plaza. 

The  connnand  of  Gen.  Worth  was  all  day  working  toward  the 
plaza  from  another  direction,  by  breakin<r  throu<jh  the  walls 
from  house  to  house,  so  that  when  night  came,  the  Mexican 
troops  were  pent  up  in  the  main  plaza.  Before  dusk,  the  Mex- 
icans being  driven  back,  our  two  pieces  of  artillery  were  with- 
drawn and  ordered  to  camp  at  Walnut  Springs. 

I  have  gone  into  these  details  to  show  the  simplicity  of  char- 
acter and  coolness  of  Gen.  Taylor  which  endeared  him  to  his 
soldiers.  No  one  discussed  depots  of  supplies,  base  of  commu- 
nications, lines  of  retreat,  or  strategic  positions;  but  every  one 
knew  that  the  brave  old  soldier  would  tight  the  enemy,  wherever 
he  found  them,  to  the  end.  During  the  night  some  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, and  a  large  mortar  were  put  in  position  and  opened  tire 
on  the  heart  of  the  city,  now  so  very  crowded  with  people. 

Early  on  the  .24th  Gen.  Ampudia  sent  a  connnunication  to 
Gen.  Taylor,  askingpermission  to  leave  the  city,  with  his  troops 
and  arms  unmolested.  Of  course  this  was  refused,  and  finally 
resulted  in  the  appointment  of  Gen.  Worth,  Gen.  Henderson, 
and  Col.  Jefferson  Davis  connnissioners  to  meet  Gens.  Requena 
and  Ortega,  and  ]M.  M.  Llano,  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexican  army,  who  arranged  the  terms  of  the  capitulation. 
I  went  to  see  the  poor  fellows  depart.  As  they  marched  by,  the 
soldiers  each  carried  his  musket  in  one  hand,  and  a  long  stalk 
of  sugar  cane  in  the  other,  off  of  which  they  were  regaling  them- 
selves. 

They  were  permitted  to  retain  their  arms,  in  connection 
with  the  capitulation,  an  armistice  for  two  months  was  agreed 
to,  subject  to  ratitication  })y  the  respective  governments;  and  now 
came  rest.  Our  loss  was  nearly  five  hundred,  and  among  the 
killed  was  another  classmate,  Lieut.  Robert  ILazlitt.  I  should 
have  mentioned  that  when  the  expedition  for  the  capture  of 
Monterey  started  Gen.  Robert  Patterson  was  left  in  command 
of  the  district  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

After  the  departure  of  the  ^Mexican  troops,  a  friendly  inter- 
course was  established  between  t)ur  officersand  the  most  respect- 
able families  in  the  city,  noted  on  their  part  for  gracefulness  of 


68  Tiro   W'al's. 

movement.  iri"a\ity  of  inamiers.  extrcinc  ixilileness.  and  irenu- 
ine  hospitality. 

On  one  occasion,  after  dinner,  a  liandsome  ^Mexican  saddle 
elicited  the  attention  of  the  guests,  and  to  my  surprise  the  next 
day  a  servant  came  to  my  tent  with  a  note,  and  the  saddle, 
"heo^ofinof  me  to  accept  it  with  consideration,"  etc.  A  few  days 
afterwards  I  returned  the  saddle,  with  a  small  present,  upon  the 
grounds  that  it  was  too  handsome  for  daily  exposure  in  serv- 
ice, etc. 

Lieut.  Randolph  Kidgely  brought  with  him  a  tine  old  setter 
dog,  and,  as  partridges  were  abundant,  I  found  exercise  and 
amusement  in  hunting.  Lieut.  J.  F.  Reynolds  was  generally 
with  me,  and  we  would  return  with  all  the  game  we  could  carry, 
as  the  birds  were  tame  and  numerous.  We  also  enjoyed  the 
w^aters  of  the  hot  springs  near  by.  now  quite  a  resort  for  inva- 
lids. 

On  the  2Tth  of  October,  (.'apt.  R.  Ridgely  was  killed  by  his 
horse  slipping  and  falling  in  the  main  street  of  the  city,  where 
the  smooth  natural  rock  was  the  pavement.  He  was,  in  my  es- 
timation, **tlie  fearless  and  irreproachable  knight,"  the  Bayard 
of  the  army.  What  a  ball  is  to  a  young  lady,  a  tight  was  to 
him:  it  made  his  step  light  and  his  eye  radiant  with  delight, 
while  joyous  smiles  beamed  from  his  face.  It  seemed  the  very 
irony  of  fate  that  he,  who  had  raced  his  steed  on  the  sea  wall  of 
Charleston,  and  leaped  over  into  the  ocean  unharmed,  should 
meet  an  untimely  end  from  a  horse  falling  in  an  open  street. 
His  father  lived  on  Klk  Ridge,  near  Baltimore,  a  gentleman  of 
the  olden  school,  of  an  age  of  the  courtly  past,  and  as  John 
Randolj)!!.  of  Roanoke,  was  a  frequent  visitor  there,  Randolph 
Ridgely  was  named  for  him. 

Thedeath  of  ('apt.  Ridgely  promoted  BragsT  to  his  com]iany. 
and  ('ai)t.  1".  \\  .  Sherman  to  l)ragir's  company.  Thus  P)ragir 
now  Ix'caiiic  the  coiiiinaiKlcr  of  the  late  Maj.  Ringgold's  battery 
of  artillery. 

It  would  apjx'ar  as  if  some  State  go\crnor,  or  some  idle  gen- 
eral would  issue  a  "' Pronunciamento  "  everynew  moon  in  Mex- 
ico, in  ho])es  of  ttecoming  President  of  that  republic;  and  thus 
it  was  that  half  the  peo})le  of  Mexico  could  not  tell  who  was 
President.  And  now  Paredes  was  (l('])os('(l.  and  Santa  Anna,  who 
was  pei'iniltcd  1o  enter  Mexico  by  llic  I'nitcd  States  authorities 


CnuisTMAs  Pa  )'.  69 

as  u  man  of  |)e!H'e,*  rei<riie(l  in  his  ])lace.  About  the  middle  of 
September  he  arrived  in  the  eity  of  Mexieo,  and  hastened  soon 
after  to  San  Lnis  Potosi  to  assume  the  comm:iiid  of  the  army 
thrice  defeated  by  Gen.  Tayh)r. 

To  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  War  Depaj'tment.  to  have  Tani- 
ico  ca])tured.  Oen.  Tavdor  stiirted  for  Victoria,  a  small  town, 
the  capital  of  the  State  of  TamauHpas,  on  or  a1)out  the  middle 
of  December,  with  the  troops  commanded  by  (lens.  Twiggs 
and  Quitman,  leaving  (Jen.  Worth  in  Saltillo  with  his  division. 

On  reaching  ]Montemorelos  he  received  information  from 
Gen.  Worth  that  Santa  Anna  was  marching  on  Saltillo,  and 
turned  back  with  all  the  troops  except  those  under  Gen.  Quit- 
man and  our  l)attery.  Gen.  Quitman  was  to  continue  on  to  Vic- 
toria. The  march  was  uninterrui)ted  down  this  beautiful  and 
fertile  valley.  On  our  right  towered  the  lofty  range  of  the 
Sierra  Madre  Mountains  in  one  unbroken  chain  and  sharp  ser- 
'  rated  edge,  that  looked  thin  enough  for  a  man  to  sit  astride  of. 
In  fact,  at  Santa  Catarina,  there  is  a  vast  hole  through  this  ridge 
near  a  thousand  feet  ])elow  the  crest,  through  which  clouds,  as  if 
in  another  world,  could  be  seen  moving  l\y  day,  and  stars  by 
night. 

The  town  of  Linares  is  in  a  rich,  wide,  and  ])eautiful  valley 
or  plain  divided  into  large  sugar  estates  cultivated  l)y  peou 
labor.  The  orange  trees  "were  very  large,  and  all  the  citrus 
fruits  abundant.  As  we  joui-neyed  on.  one  day  Christmas  came, 
and  as  usual  it  came  on  time,  and,  although  we  were  in  the  land 
of  the  saints,  we  had  not  faith  enough  to  believe  that  Santa 
Claus  would  make  us  a  visit.  So  1  went  into  the  mountains  in 
quest  of  a  wild  turkey  for  dinner,  and  failed  to  kill  one.  What 
were  w^e  to  do  t  Reynolds  or  our  servants  had  succeeded  in  pro- 
curing some  eggs.  AVith  them  visions  of  pudding  and  '"egg- 
nog"  arose.  We  could  get  ''pulque,"  get  "aguardiente,"  from 
the  maguey  plant,  but  it  w'as  villianous  tire  water.  In  this  di- 
lemma I  sent  my  servant  in  tpiest  of  our  (k)ctor — Dr.  (\  C. 
Keeuey,  I  think  it  w^as — to  tell  him  to  call  inunediately.  The 
eggs  were  all  beaten  up  ready.  The  doctor  arrived.  We  made 
him  a  prisoner,  and  told  him  that  he  could  not  be  released  until 

*  It  was  understood  that  Santa  Anna  was  lu  end  the  war  by  making  a 
treaty  of  peace,  but  he  deceived  I'l-csidcnt  Polk. 


70  Tn-o  Wars. 

lie  w  I'oto  :i  note  to  his  ^^t(•\v;l^(l  lo  send  him  a  l)()tlk'  of  bnuuly  and 
a  bottle  of  nun.  He  did  il  on  the  aTound  that  we  all  were  in  want 
of  a  stimulant,  and  on  this  oeeasioii  the  doctor  took  his  own 
prescription.  A\'hen  l-'lyniouth  Rock  smiles,  wonder  not  that 
we,  far  away  from  home,  tried  to  make  the  service  suit  the  day, 
and  the  day  to  be  one  of  rejoicino;  that  immortality  was  hrouofht 
to  liofht. 

We  encamped  one  nio:ht  at  a  hacienda  not  far  from  \'ietoria. 
The  ownei'  was  very  civil  and  kind;  invited  us  to  his  drawing- 
room,  walked  with  us  in  his  large  orange  grove  laden  with 
golden  fruit,  which  was  protected  by  a  high  stone  wall.  He 
possessed  a  ^■ast  sugar  estate,  and  said  that  he  had  over  five  hun- 
dred peon  laborers  on  it.  As  far  as  we  could  see  there  was  only 
sugar  cane. 

On  the  '2Uih  of  December  we  marched  into  the  great  square, 
or  ])laza,  of  Victoria  without  meeting  with  any  resistance.  The 
troops  were  drawn  U])  in  line,  the  otticers  to  the  front  and  fa- 
cing the  alcazar. 

The  alcalde  left  his  otiice,  crossed  the  plaza,  and  after  a  short 
address  presented  the  keys  of  the  city  to  (Jen.  Quitman.  The 
Mexican  standard  was  hauled  down,  and  as  the  United  States 
flag  was  thrown  to  the  i)reeze  the  band  began  to  play,  when  all 
at  once,  in  emulation,  three  or  four  jackasses  began  to  bray,  and 
bray,  and  drowned  all  proceedings,  amidst  roars  of  laughter 
that  could  not  be  restrained,  especially  among  the  volunteers. 

We  had  Ijeen  in  camp  but  a  few  days  when  Gen.  Taylor  ar- 
rived with  (Jen.  Twigg's  division,  and  almost  at  the  same  hour 
Gen.  Patterson  came  in  from  iNIatamoras  with  a  large  force. 

Before  I  tell  you  any  more  I  must  inform  you  of  certain  pro- 
ceedings and  events  that  hapjiened  or  took  place  in  the  past. 
One  was  that  the  President  had  ordered  the  commander  in  chief, 
Gen.  Winlield  Scott,  to  take  the  lield  as  he  desired,  and  to  pro- 
ceed to  Vera  Cruz,  and  advance  on  the  City  of  Mexico  from 
that  place.  Of  coijrse  all  the  troops  in  Mexico  Avere  subject  to 
his  orders.  Accordingly,  when  Gen.  Scott  came  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Kio  (Jrande,  he  made  known  to  Gen.  Taylor  the  j)articular 
troops  that  he  wished  him  to  order  to  \v\-a  Cruz  by  duplicate 
dispatches.  The  letter  sent  to  Monterey  reached  theic  after 
(jrcn.  'layloi-  had  started  for  Victoria.  It  was  reported,  and  1 
])restnn('  it  is  true,  that  the  letter-  was  opened  and  read  })y  (Jen. 


Death  of  Likvt.  IIiciii:y.  71 

Miusliall.  If  so.  then  lie  knew  its  iniportanee.  He  eoniniitted 
two  u:nive  errors:  First,  he  should  have  known  that  it  was  all 
important  that  the  dispatches  should  be  so  sent  as  not  to  fall 
into  the  hands  (jf  the  eneniv^:  and  secondly,  he  should  not  have 
required  an  otHeer  to  ofo  to  almost  certain  death  when  it-was  not 
necessary.  What  did  he  do^  He  placed  these  dispatches  in  the 
hands  of  Lieut.  ,lohn  A.  Kichey,  and  sent  or  permitted  him  to 
carry  the  dispatches  alone  throujrh  the  enemy's  country  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  (len.  Taylor  at  Victoria.  The  conse- 
quence was  that  as  Lieut.  Kichey  was  leavin,<r  the  town  of  Villa 
Gran  he  was  ''lassoed''  hy  a  Mexican,  pulled  from  his  horse, 
murdered,  and  the  dispatches  forwarded  in  all  haste  to  Santa 
Anna,  who  learned  how  Gen.  Taylor  would  be  stri})ped  of  all 
the  I'nited  States  troops  and  most  of  his  volunteer  force,  how 
Gen.  Scott  w^as  on  his  way  to  Vera  Cruz  to  capture  that  city, 
and  then  to  march  on  his  ca])ital. 

Santa  Anna's  decision  was  prompt  and  decided.  It  was  what 
a  great  commander  would  have  done.  He  decided  to  attack  Gen. 
Taylor  without  delay,  defeat  him.  if  possible,  recover  all  the 
territor}'  lost,  even  to  the  Nueces  river;  then  tiy  to  the  defense 
of  his  capital  in  time  to  meet  Gen.  Scott  before  he  passed  the 
strohof  defenses  of  Cerro  Gordo. 

He  did  not  succeed  in  def  eating  Gen.  Taylor,  but  he  met  Scott 
as  he  had  planned  to  do.  This  was  told  by  Col.  Iturbide.  a  son 
of  the  last  emperor  of  ^Mexico,  whom  I  met  after  the  wai-. 

\Mien  Gen.  Taylor  received  the  duplicate  of  the  orders  from 
Gen.  Scott  at  Victoria,  and  learned  how  he  Avas  to  be  stripped 
of  nearly  all  the  gallant  men  who  had  Avon  for  him  the  three  bat- 
tles, he  gave  the  necessary  orders  for  the  departiu-e  of  the  troops 
called  for,  and  this  embraced  the  divisions  of  Gens,  Worth  and 
TAviggs,  and  most  of  Gen.  Patterson's  forces.  In  short,  all  the 
regular  troops  Avere  sent  to  Vera  Cruz,  except  four  field  bat- 
teries of  artillery  and  two  squadrons  of  dragoons,  in  all  about 
six  hundred  men.  1  will  not  write  here  my  opinion,  as  formed 
from  ol)servation  or  otherwise,  of  Gen.  Taylor's  .equanindty  of 
mind  on  that  occasion.  Howes er,  it  Avas  reported  that  by  mis- 
take he  once  put  nuistard  in  his  coHee  instead  of  sugar.  Won- 
der not  at  his  perplexity.  He  had  enough  to  irritate  him.  He 
had  some  apprehension,  no  doubt,  that  the  enemy  might  make 
an  advaiu'c  fi-oni   San  Luis  Polosi  on  his  now  small  fort-e:  l)ut 


72  7'h'o  ir.j/t-s. 

wliMt  wdundt'd  his  pi-ido.  was — ApoUyon  lichiiKl  him  t lie  party 
opposed  to  the  annexation  of  any  territory  soulli  had  exjn-essed 
a  wish  that  our  li'()oi)s  niiofht  be  welcomed  hy  the  Mexii-ans  with 
••  l»h)o<lv  liands  and  hospitabU'  _<rraves;"  and  the  achninistration. 
alarmed  at  his  orowinir  p()])idarity  with  the  Whiir  party,  hoi)in<2: 
to  divide  or  parallel  his  fame  with  another,  sentCien.  Seott  with 
sueh  an  inadequate  foree  that  hr  was  oblio^ed  to  deprive  Gen. 
Taylor  of  sueh  troops  as  I  have  stated.  So  (len.  Taylor  had 
Santa  Anna  in  frout^  the  jealous  administration  and  the  anti- 
annexation  i)arty  in  Cons^ress  to  titrhl  h,J,'ni<l  him.  The  se(|iiel 
will  disclose  his  intre})id  charactei'.  and  his  triimi))!!  in  the  end 
over  all. 

In  the  latter  part  of  January  Gen.  Tayhn-  took  his  departure 
from  Victoria  for  ^Monterey.  His  escor4  consisted  of  Col.  Jef- 
ferson Davis's  reofiment  of  Mississippi  Kities.  two  squa(h-ons  of 
draofoons,  and  our  l)attery.  ]\Iy  heart  was  not  so  liffht  nor  my 
feelinirs  so  l)uoyant  as  when  we  went  journeyino;  southward.  I 
have  mentioned  how  Lieut.  Kichey  was  murdered  at  \"\\\\\  (iran 
and  his  dispatches  taken.  When  (ien.  Taylor  reached  that  town 
he  directed  our  battery  and  the  (h'a,<roons  to  l)e  halted  in  the 
plaza,  and,  sending  for  the  alcalde,  held  a  court  to  investigate 
the  nuirder  of  Richey.  The  nuuderer  was  demanded.  The  al- 
calde said  that  he  did  not  know  who  was  the  guilty  man,  and 
could  not  })roduce  him.  The  genei-al  did  not  credit  his  story: 
said  he  would  hang  him  if  he  (lid  not  give  information  as  to  who 
was  the  criminal.  The  alcalde  was  very  nuich  frightened,  and 
turned  })ale  and  treml)le<l.  The  examination  of  such  })ersons  as 
were  called  was  fiuitless.  and  ended  in  (Jen.  Taylor  notifying 
the  alcalde  that  he  would  levy  a  c()ntril>ution  on  the  town  of  (  T  be- 
lieve )  some  Jf^.jO, 000  as  indenuiity,  which  would  have  to  be  paid 
in  thi'ce  weeks  unless  the  nuu'derer  was  caught  and  delivered  to 
hijn.  In  all  this  the  ])riests  assisted  the  alcalde,  and  endeavored 
to  pacify  the  (Jeneral. 

When  the  coiut  left  the  hall  the  (ieneral  disi'overe<l  that  his 
baggage  wagons  had  been  halted,  and  that  vexed  him,  and  to 
further  irritate  him,  a  ])iece  of  artillery  l)locked  the  I'oad  by  not 
being  able  to  get  up  a  steep  hill.  The  (ieneial  pulled  the  di-iv- 
er"s  ear,  got  the  ))iece  up.  and  ordered  it  to  remain  outside  the 
road  until  everything  had  ])assed.  When  he  rode  away,  1  or- 
dered  the   <iim    into   the   road,   and   it  was  driven  on.      I  ne^•er 


.1(11  A  \i  hiA  II /■:/./>.  7H 

leai'iic'd  wliclluT  the  murderer  of  Kii-hoy  was  apprelieiulcd  or 
not. 

A\'lieii  Avo  a;ri\ed  at  Monterey  we  went  into  our  old  camp  at 
A\'alnut  Sprinofs.  We  had  some  idle  time  to  ride  out  in  the 
country.  The  scenery  around  Monterey  is  very  beautiful.  There 
are  near  the  city  two  isolated  mountains  Saddle  ^Mountain  and 
Mitra  Mountain — ])ehin(l  which  the  chain  of  the  Sierra  Madre 
rises  in  towering  grandeur  from  the  plain  to  the  height  of  near 
five  thousand  feet,  stretching  beyond  vision  as  one  vast  wall  of 
rock,  with  a  serrated  edge  seemingly  as  sharp  as  a  saw,  and  in- 
accessible to  man.  Nearly  every  morning  a  canopy  of  clouds 
would  form  around  the  breast  of  Saddle  ^Mountain,  extending 
overhead  to  the  distance  of  five  or  six  miles,  (iradually,  as  the 
day  advanced,  the  clouds  from  the  outer  edge  would  sail  gently 
away  one  after  the  other,  disrobing  the  mountain  and  exposing 
the  beauty  of  its  form  to  view. 

Once  I  was  on  the  mountain  above  the  clouds,  in  the  In-ight 
sunshine  looking  down  upon  this  billowy  sea.  Beyond  was  the 
lofty  ridge  glowing  in  the  sun;  around,  hiding  the  plain  for 
miles  distant,  was  an  ocean  of  clouds  white  as  snow,  softer  than 
carded  wool,  lighter  than  down,  rolling  and  swelling  as  silent  as 
the  heavens  above  them.  Then  they  floated  slowly  away,  melt- 
ing into  air,  and  left  me  to  look  down  on  the  gross  earth  to  which 
1  must  return. 

^Mlen  Gen.  Worth  ])elieved  that  Santa  Anna  was  on  the  march 
to  Saltillo,  Gen.  Wool  left  Parras  and  hastened  to  Agua  Nueva, 
and  held  that  place,  which  is  seventeen  or  more  miles  in  advance 
of  Saltillo. 

Sometime  in  the  early  part  of  Fe})ruary  our  company  left 
Monterey,  and  we  began  our  march  to  Saltillo.  Moving  west, 
we  passed  the  bishop's  palace.  Thence  the  road  runs  along  the 
base  of  the  Cerro  de  la  ]Mitra  ^Mountains  for  miles,  with  the 
Sierra  Madre  on  the  left;  and,  although  this  immense  ridge  was 
about  eight  miles  distant,  it  was  so  abruptly  high  and  the  at- 
mosphere so  clear  that  it  appeared  not  more  distant  than  one 
could  cast  a  stone. 

^Marching  on,  we  passed  some  mills:  then  through  a  valley  in 
the  mountains,  highly  cultivated,  trees  l)ordering  the  road,  and 
then  down  an  incline  to  the  hacienda  of  Rinconada,  closed  in  by 
mountains.     The  road  then  ascends  l)v  a  high  grade  to  Los  ^NIu- 


7-1  Two  Wahs. 

ertos,  thence  on  to  Saltillo.  The  ascent  to  Los  Muertos  re- 
minded nie  of  Thiers's  descii}»lion  of  the  road  risinof  np  the  In- 
canale  to  the  phiteau  of  Kivoli.  in  his  account  of  that  battle  in 
Napoleon's  Italian  campaio;ns.  1  ;imi  suic  no  ti-oops  could  ad- 
vance up  that  incline,  straiofht  and  narrow,  ajrainst  well-served 
artillery.  It  was  not  fortified  by  the  Mexicans  to  any  extent, 
because  it  could  l)e  turned  by  two  distant  passes.  This  inarch 
of  sixty  odd  miles  was  intei-estin;s:  in  a  high  dep-ee.  Lofty 
mountains,  deep  valleys,  wild,  narrow  passes,  beautiful  jrreen 
tields  in  cultivati(ni,  babblinij  brooks  surprising  me  at  every 
turn.  During  this  march  from  ^Monterey  to  Saltillo  we  made 
or  gained  an  elevation  of  over  four  thousand  four  hundred  feet, 
and  we  were  now  over  six  thousand  feet  above  the  ocean.  The 
city  is  built  on  a  slope  that  rises  across  the  valley  from  moun- 
tains to  mountains.  You  nnist  understand  that  when  we  rose 
from  out  that  steep  ascent  at  Los  Muertos  there  was  apparently 
a  plain  before  us,  but  really  it  was  a  valley,  with  continuous 
mountains  on  either  side,  all  the  way  to  AguaNueva;  thence,  on 
south  toward  the  City  of  Mexico  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see 
were  blue  peaks  towering  in  the  sky. 

As  you  will  soon  have  a  battle  on  hand  "'and  a  famous  victo- 
ry." I  will  here  give  you  some  idea  of  the  ground.  Leaving  the 
city  of  Saltillo  and  going  south,  the  first  place  of  note  is  the 
hacienda  of  Hucna  Vista. "^  rive  miles  distant,  with  its  thick  adobe 
(sun-dried  brick  )  walls  and  Hat  roofs;  next,  a  point  eight  miles 
from  the  city  called  La  Angustura  (the  Narrows),  which  became 
the  center  of  the  battlerield.  Farther  on  is  Encantada,  the  en- 
chanted place,  and  then  Agua  Nueva,  nearly  twenty  miles  fioni 
Saltillo.  The  ravines  on  the  left  of  the  road  at  Angustura  ran 
back  to  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  to  the  right  of  the  road 
were  deep  gullies  (l)arrancas),  some  extending  to  the  mountains 
on  the  west.  At  one  place  the  I'avines  on  the  left  and  the  gul- 
lies on  the  right  approach  so  near  that  there  is  room  only  for  the 
road,  forming  the  Narrows. 

It  was  about  the  Sth  of  Febi'uarv  when  wi'  rcaclicd  Saltillo. 
and  soon  after  we  wei-e  sent  to  the  front  a1  Agua  Nue\a. 
From  many  sources  came  coii-oborative  lestinioiiy  liiat  the 
enemy  w^as  advancing   on    Saltillo    by   detachments.     Seventy 

*  "  BciHIliflll    \'ir\\  ." 


SCALE   ASOur  CiCnr  miUS  ro  THt  INCH 


J/pyipre^ 


MAP  OF  THE  COUNTRY  NEAR  BUENA  VISTA. 


76  Two   Wars. 

volunteers,  under  Majs.  Borland  and  Gaines,  were  captured  at 
Encarnat'ion.  within  twenty  miles  of  where  we  were  encamped. 
On  the  i^oih  ("ol.  .May  was  sent  to  Ilediondo  on  a  reconnoissance, 
and  some  of  his  troops  were  captured,  })ut  he  returned  with  the 
information  sfiven  him  by  a  deserter  from  the  Mexican  army 
that  Santa  Anna,  with  an  army  of  twenty  thousand  men,  was 
at  La  Encarnacion,  only  twenty  miles  distant  from  Aofua  Nueva. 
May  ofot  l)ack  early  on  the  mornino;' of  the  21st,  and  a  few  hours 
after  jNIaj.  ]\IcCulloch  arrived  with  like  information,  with  this 
difierence:  He  went  to  Encarnacion,  climbed  a  lofty  peak  that 
overlooked  the  encampment  of  the  ^Mexicans,  and  computed  their 
number  /J^^"/'  //////.svV/!     This  was  confirmation  stron<>\ 

On  the  2()th  I  went  huntintr  with  Lieut.  R.  L.  Moore,  of  the 
Mississippi  reofiment.  The  day  was  warm;  the  Avinds  were  in 
their  caves;  an  ominous  silence  pervaded  all  nature;  the  sun  did 
not  dazzle  the  eye,  and  was  distinct  in  outline,  like  the  full  moon; 
the  <rame  was  tame  and  stu])id;  Moore  was  heavy  of  heart  and 
dreamy.  There  was  somethin<>:  peculiar  in  this  silence — like  the 
desert  like  the  stillness  that  oft  precedes  the  tempest  and  the 
earthquake.  Did  ]\Ioore  have  a  premonition  of  his  death  i  He 
fell  in  the  cominir  battle.  The  day  left  a  lasting  im})ression  on 
my  mind,  it  was  so  weirdlikc  and  mystical. 

••By  a  divine  instinct  jncn's  minds  mistrust 
Ensuing  danger;  as  l)y  proof,  we  see 
'J'he  water  swell  before  a  boisterous  storm.  " 

On  the  21st,  as  I  have  mentioned,  both  May  and  McCuUoch 
returned  to  camp.  Brao^or,  in  his  usual  sarcastic  manner  com- 
menting on  May's  expedition,  remarked:  **I  perceive  that  it  is 
harder  to  fosi^  one's  reputation  tlian  to  make  it." 

It  being-  an  open  country  for  scmie  distance  arouncL  Airua 
Nueva,  (len.  Taylor,  considcrinof  the  o^reat  superiority  of  the 
enemy  in  numbers,  resolved  to  fall  back  to  Angustura,  the  nar- 
row pass,  near  Buena  Vista.  Our  company  went  into  camp  on 
the  plain  above  and  near  the  city.  On  the  morning  of  the  22d, 
we  moved  down  to  the  site  selected  for  the  lield  of  battle.  If 
the  Hudson  river,  where  it  passes  through  the  Catskill  Moun- 
tains, were  dry  and  wider,  and  its  surface  furrowed  by  deep 
ravines  and  watei'  gullies  crossing  it.  it  would  resem))le  the  field 
of  Buena  Vista. 

Capt.  Washington's  })attery  of  eight  guns  was  placed  iii  the 


TiiK  Flag  of  Truce.  11 

road  at  the  Narrows.  Thence  a  ravine  ran  in  a  southeasterly  di- 
rection. At  the  mouth  of  this  ravine,  on  the  ])hnn,  the  line  of 
infantry  commenced  and  exten(le<l  on  the  U'ft  toward  the  momi- 
tains.  The  howitzer  which  I  <'onuiianded  was  put  in  position  on 
the  left  of  C\)l.  I>isseirs  Second  Heiriment  of  Illinois.  Lieut. 
G.  H.  Thomas  had  his  ofun  on  the  rit^ht  of  this  reiriment.  It 
was  not  lonir  before  away  in  the  distance  ch)uds  of  dust  were 
seen  o^rowiiio-  larirer  and  nearer  as  the  cavalry  came  in  sisfht;  then 
came  artillery  and  infantry  movintr  to  their  ri<^ht  and  confront- 
ing  our  line,  with  bands  playing  and  banners  waving.  Hours 
were  consumed  in  this  movement.  In  the  meantime  Gen.  Santa 
Anna  under  a  tiag  of  truce  sent  to  Gen.  Taylor  a  long  communi- 
cation, particularly  informing  him  that  he  was  surrounded  by 
twenty  thousand  men.  and  to  avoid  l)eing  cut  to  pieces,  called 
on  him  to  surrender  at  discretion,  that  he  would  be  treated  with 
the  consideration  belonging  to  the  Mexican  character,  etc.,  and 
inscribed  it:  "God  and  liberty!  Camp  at  Encantada.  Fe))ruary 
22,  1847.     An  to.  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna." 

It  was  in  the  Spanish  language,  and  had  to  be  translated  to  the 
General.  Turning  to  Maj.  Bliss,  his  adjutant  general,  he  an- 
nounced a  very  forcil)le  reply  that  was  toned  down  ])y  ]Maj.  Bliss 
to  the  following: 

HeADQIAKTEUS  AkMY  of  OCCIPATION,    ( 

Near  Bcena  Vista.  February  22,  1847.  j' 
Sir:  In  reply  to  your  note  of  this  date  summoning  me  to  surrender  my 
forces  at  discretion,  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  I  decline  acceding  to  your  re- 
quest. Z.Taylor, 

Mitjor  General  U.  S.  A..  Colnm.^u(ling. 
Seiior  Gen.  D.  Anto.  Lopez  ilc  Santa  Anna,  Comnianding  in  Chief,  Encantada. 

As  no  signs  of  an  advance  had  been  made,  and  as  none  could 
be  attempted  until  after  the  return  of  the  tiag  of  truce,  I  rode 
down  to  w^here  Gen.  Taylor  was  to  learn  the  purport  of  the  dis- 
patch. I  regret  now  that  I  did  not  write  dow^n  the  exact  words 
made  by  the  General  in  his  verbal  reply. 

I  am  sorry  that  I  have  no  time  to  write  you  a  description  of 
this  battle,  but  you  will  find  it  in  some  of  the  histories  of  this 
war.  I  can  only  tell  you  what  relates  to  me  and  what  I  saw  and 
heard. 

At  3  P.M.  the  tiring  of  a  solitary  gun  by  the  enemy  was  the 
signal  for  battle:  and  iunnediately  the  enemy  began  ascending 
a  ridofe  of  the  mountain  on  our  left.     At  the  same  time  our 


78  Two  Wars. 

troops  began  elimbincr  up  anotlier.  These  two  ridges,  like  the 
sides  of  a  triangle,  met  at  a  point  halfway  up  the  mountain  side; 
so  the  higher  they  went  the  nearei-  they  approached  each  other. 
This  skirmishing  on  the  mountain  continued  long  after  dark,  and 
the  bright  tiashes  of  the  muskets  imparted  an  interest  to  the  sur- 
roundings. 

When  this  prelude  terminated,  under  the  watchful  sentinels, 
the  two  armies  rested  as  best  they  could  during  the  night.  If 
you  will  bear  in  mind  that  the  height  of  Mount  Washington  is 
6,284  feet,  and  that  the  plain  or  valley  of  I^a  Encantadais  6,1-J-O 
feet  above  tide  water,  you  will  not  be  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  we  were  slumbering  in  an  atmosphei-e  as  I)almy  as  Egypt. 
On  the  contrary,  the  wind  swept  along  the  valley  like  a  young 
Dakota  blizzard. 

]\Jaj.  John  Munroe,  one  of  the  kindest  men  to  be  found  in  the 
army,  may  have  derived  his  knowledge  of  Connecticut  "bun- 
dling" from  the  verita])le  histoiian  Diedrick  Knickerbocker  or 
otherwise;  but  be  that  as  it  may,  he  suggested  to  Lieut.  J.  F. 
Reynolds  and  me  that  we  should  "  bimdle"  to  keep  warm  during 
the  night.  So  a  ])Ianket  was  spread  on  the  ground  and  the  oth- 
ers used  for  covering.  The  Major  slept  to  windward,  and  Rey- 
nolds to  leeward.  In  all  my  varied  experience  in  life  I  cannot 
recall  a  night  when  I  came  so  near  ])erishing  fi-om  cold.  Yet 
there  was  nothing  severely  frozen,  only  the  wind  carried  otf  all 
the  heat  from  ouj-  bodies.  When  we  got  u])  I  could  not  keep  my 
teeth  (|iiict.  Some  of  the  men  of  the  (•()m])any  had  a  little  tire, 
and  we  warmed  our  hands.  Kverylxxly  was  shivei'ing.  ^ly  serv- 
ant was  in  cam])  at  Saltillo.  and  1  do  not  rememl»er  getting  any 
breakfast:  1  know   1  had  no  dinner  or  su})})er. 

Santa  Anna  was  very  considerate  in  not  Inning  reveille  till  a 
late  hour,  and  then  it  was  sounded  in  one  conunand  after  an- 
othei'.  perhaps  to  ini])i'ess  us  with  the  numlxT  he  h;i(l.  Every- 
thing was  done  with  Spanish  gravity  suital)le  to  the  occasion. 
There  was  no  running  to  and  fi'o.  l)ul  decorum  marked  their 
proceedings,  foi-  I  jiad  an  oppoi'tiniity  to  judge.  There  had  been 
some  skirmishing  since  daylight  up  in  the  mountain,  which  was 
merely  a  side  show.  I  was  ordeicd  by  Col.  Churchill  to  go  to 
the  liasc  of  the  mountain  and  ride  <lown  the  side  of  the  ravine  in 
front  of  the  enemy  to  ascertain  if  it  could  be  ci'ossed  by  artil- 
lery.    I  did  as  directed,  and  was  not  lived  at.     This  was  before 


PLAN  OF  BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA. 

Fought  February  22,  23,  1847. 


J     Headquarters  of  Taylor. 

A — Hacienda  of  Buena  Vista. 

5^La  Augustura. 

C — Deep  gullies. 

i)— High  laud. 

E — Plateau. 

F — Ravines. 

O — Bi'oad  ravine. 

H — Encauipment. 

I — Elevated  ridge. 

J — Occupied  by  enemy  on  the  a3d. 

K — Slope  of  the  mountain  occupied 

by  our  forces  on  the  23d. 
L — Position  of  O"  Brien's  and  Indiana 

Regiment. 


ilf— Enemy's  battei-y. 

N — Bragg' s  Batterj'  and  Kentucky 
Volunteers. 

0  P  ^—Gorges. 

R — Second  Illinois  and  Lieuts. 
Thomas's  and  French's  guns. 

S — Two  of  Sherman's  guns. 

T — United  States  dragoons. 

f/^— Texas  Rangers. 

V — Lane's  Indiana  Volunteers. 

W — Arkansas  and  Kentucky  caval- 
ry- 

X — Column  of  first  attack. 

Y — Lombardeni's  Division. 

Z — Pacheco's  Division. 


80  Two  Wars. 

{\\v  heavy  masses  of  infaiilrv  were  iml  in  motion.  I  rej)orte(l 
the  ravine  im])a8sal)le  for  artillery. 

The  enemy's  infantry  ^ya8  formed  into  three  eolunms  of  at- 
taek.  One  moved  down  the  road  toward  Washinarton's  battery. 
The  central  one  was  composed  of  two  divisions  commanded  by 
Gens.  Lombardini  and  Pacheco.  Their  third  column  had  been 
deployed  already,  and  a  part  of  it  had  been  skirmishina:  all  the 
morninfiT  on  the  mountain  side.  I  took  the  <rreatest  interest  in 
the  central  coliuun.  Pacheco  managed  to  get  his  division  in  a 
ravine  by  entering  it  at  the  gorge,  and  moved  up  concealed,  di- 
rectly in  front  of  us.  1  tried  to  l)urst  shells  over  them  by  short- 
ening the  fuses,  as  they  were  only  al)out  one  hundred  and  tifty 
yards  distant.  Their  tiring  increased  rapidly.  As  Lombardini 
was  advancing  across  the  plateau  to  Pacheco's  right,  Pacheco's 
division  rose  from  the  ravine  ( to  form  line  with  him)  directly 
opposite  the  Second  Illinois  tr()0})s.  Instantly  BisselTs  and 
T><aue's  infantry  opened  tire  on  them,  and  Thomas  and  I  used 
canister  as  rapidly  as  men  (so  well  trained  as  ours  were)  could 
serve  the  guns. 

Tnt'ortunately  some  of  Lane's  troops  gave  way  and  tied,  and 
this  enabled  the  enemy  to  gain  our  left  tiank  and  reai'.  At  this 
time  I  was  struck  witii  an  ounce  nuisket  ])ali  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  right  thigh  while  my  left  foot  was  in  the  stirruj)  in  the 
act  of  mounting  my  horse.  The  shot  was  not  ])ainful  at  all,  and 
the  .sensation  was  that  of  being  struck  watli  a  club.  I  was  put 
on  my  horse,  as  I  could  not  walk.  Soon  after,  to  prevent  I)eing 
entirely  surrounded,  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back  toward  the 
road,  and  came  into  line  facing  toward  the  mountain,  and  opened 
fire,  now  taking  the  enemy  in  flank  and  rear  as  they  w^ere  cross- 
ing the  plain.  I  refused  to  be  taken  from  my  horse  and  put  in 
a  wagon,  knowing  I  would  be  "lanced'"'  by  the  Mexicans  in  ease 
of  disaster,  so  I  sat  on  my  horse  all  the  re.st  of  the  day  walking 
him  sometimes  to  the  battery  when  it  remained  in  one  place  any 
length  of  time.  In  the  attack  made  in  our  rear  Reynolds  came 
by  with  his  guns,  and  we  di-ove  l)ack  a  large  body  of  cavalry 
alone.  Keynolds  at  the  caissons  prepared  the  shells,  cut  the 
fuses  himself,  and  I  directed  the  tiring  until  the  Mexican  troops 
were  dii\cn  Itcyond  the  range  of  the  shells,  lie  then  moved  in 
pursuit  at  full  gallo})  and  left  me  alone.  The  enemy  was  now 
in  oiu-  fiont.  left  Hank,  and   rear.      \Vhen  Keynolds  left  nie   I 


A  Cavalry  Fight.  81 

concluded  to  ^o  to  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  now  close  by; 
hut  Itcforc  T  readied  there  I  noticed  the  Arkansas  and  Kentucky 
cavalry  t'orniin<ji:  in  line  a  little  way  to  the  east  of  the  hacienda, 
and  at  the  same  time  I  saw  a  hriuade  of  the  enemy's  lancers  com- 
inc:  from  the  base  of  the  mountain  to  attack  them.  As  I  had 
never  seen  a  cavalr}^  hght,  1  watched  it  with  a  great  deal  of  in- 
terest, being  close  by.  The  enemy  were  over  two  to  one  of  ours. 
They  came  on  in  solid  column,  i-eceived  the  tire  of  our  men  with- 
out l)eing  checked  at  all,  rode  directly  through  our  men,  using 
their  lances  freely  on  every  side.  After  passing  over  our  troops 
they  went  near  the  hacienda,  and  were  tired  on  ))y  our  men  on 
the  top  of  the  building  as  they  passed  by.  This  brigade  of  lan- 
cers crossed  the  road  to  the  west,  then  went  south  and  joined  the 
army  where  Santa  Anna  was,  thereby  having  made  the  complete 
circuit  of  (jiir  <irmy  during  the  battle. 

When  this  affair  was  ended  I  saw  another  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  coming  down  from  near  the  mountains  heading  for  the 
hacienda,  and  our  infantry  moving  to  intercept  them.  Observ- 
ing large  crowds  around  and  in  the  buildings,  I  went  to  them. 
I  asked  them,  I  begged  them,  implored  them  to  fall  into  line, 
not  to  tight,  but  to  show  themselves  to  the  enemy.  I  gotal)out 
twenty  into  a  company,  and  while  waiting  for  others  to  join  one 
by  one  those  that  I  had  asked  went  into  the  building  for  their 
companions  until  tiually  I  Avas  left  alone,  none  of  them  return- 
ing. By  this  time  the  cavalry  referred  to  came  on  down  in  splen- 
did style,  and,  instead  of  making  a  headlong  charge,  halted  in 
front  of  the  Mississippiaus  and  ludiauians  under  Col.  Jeti'erson 
Davis,  and  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  One  of  the  guns  of 
our  battery  was  also  engaged  in  this  isolated  fight.  Why  this 
cavalry  rode  down  into  the  very  jaws  of  vleath  and  came  to  a  halt 
I  never  heard  explained. 

Weary,  tired,  and  weakened  by  loss  of  blood,  with  my  leg 
stiff  and  useless,  I  rode  into  the  court  of  the  hacienda,  and  was 
taken  from  my  horse  and  carried  into  a  very  large  room  and  laid 
on  the  floor.  The  whole  floor  was  covered  with  wounded.  I  was 
placed  between  two  soldiers.  One  had  both  legs  broken  below 
the  knee.  The  scene  almost  beggars  description.  The  screams 
of  agony  from  i)ain,  the  moans  of  the  dying,  the  messages  sent 
home  by  the  despairing,  the  parting  farewells  of  friends,  the  in- 
coherent speech,  the  peculiar  movements  of  the  hands  and  fin- 
6 


82  Two  Wai.'s. 

ofers,  silence,  the  spirit''s  Hio^ht — to  wlieie'  And  amidst  all  this 
some  of  the  mean  passions  of  humanity  were  displayed.  Near 
me  was  a  poor  soldier  hopelessly  wounded.  He  was  cold,  and  yet 
a  wretch  came  and,  aofainst  remonstrances,  took  the  blanket  ott' 
him.  claiminir  that  it  was  his. 

On  the  field  I  was  twice  taken  from  my  horse  l)y  the  surtreons 
and  had  the  wound  probed,  l:)ut  no  probe  could  reach  the  ball. 
No  surgeon  was  at  the  hacienda,  so  there  I  remained  until  after 
dark.  I  think  there  must  have  been  seven  or  eitf ht  hundred  able- 
bodied  men  at  the  buildings  who  had  left  ranks.  When  the  fir- 
ing ended  Gen.  Taylor  came.  A  tain)()ard  of  a  wagon  was 
))rought  in,  I  was  placed  on  it  and  carried  out  and  put  in  a  com- 
mon wagon  (by  the  General,  Dr.  Hitchcock,  Col.  May,  and  some 
others)  between  two  wounded  men.  One  of  them  was  Col.  Jef- 
ferson Davis,  the  other  a  lieutenant  of  volunteers.  I  said  to  the 
General  I  hoped  he  would  gain  a  complete  victory  on  the  mor- 
row, and  his  reply  was:  "Yes,  yes,  if  too  many  of  my  men  do 
not  give  me  the  slip  to-night."  I  think  he  made  this  reply  be- 
cause he  was  mortified  and  pained  to  find  so  many  men  at  the 
hacienda  wdio  had  deserted  the  field,  many  of  them  by  carrying 
off  the  wounded  and  not  returning  to  their  companies. 

I  was  taken  to  our  camp  at  Saltillo,  put  on  the  ground  in  my 
tent  with  but  little  covering,  and  left  alone.  Where  my  serv- 
ant was  I  know  not.  The  camp  was  silent,  every  one  being  away 
on  or  near  the  field  of  battle.  It  was  to  me  a  night  of  Ixxlily 
suffering.  About  daylight  I  heard  footsteps  and  called  aloud, 
and  was  answered  l)y  a  passing  soldier  coming  to  my  relief. 
That  morning  I  was  moved  to  a  hospital  and  received  medical 
attention,  and  soon  after  I  w^as  sent  to  a  private  house  occupied 
by  the  wife  of  one  of  our  soldiers,  where  I  received  every  care 
and  w^as  made  comfortable. 

When  I  left  my  gun  I  went  in  search  of  an  army  surgeon,  as 
I  was  urged  to  do  by  Lieut.  Thomas,  because  I  became  dizzy  and 
had  to  be  taken  from  my  horse  for  a  while.  I  found  Dr.  Hitch- 
cock somew^here  in  the  field  and  exposed  to  some  fire  from  the 
enemy  in  front.  He  advised  me  to  take  a  wagon  and  go  to  the 
hospital.  He  was  extracting  a  ball  from  Cai)t.  Enoch  Steen,  of 
the  dragoons,  who  was  wounded,  and  who.  ])erhaps  to  divert  his 
mind  from  what  the  doctor  was  doing,  or  for  i-clief  from  pain, 
was  cursing  two  men  who  had  stop[)ed  on  their  way  back  to 


A  Second  Attack.  83 

their  coiiipjinv  to  sec  the  openitioii  pertoniied.  He  ordered 
them  away,  called  them  cowards,  and  other  \  ile  names;  hut  still 
they  moved  not  until  a  musket  ball  came  })assino-  by  more  close- 
ly than  others,  knocked  the  hat  otV  the  head  of  one  of  them, 
and  left  his  head  white  where  it  cut  the  hair  from  his  scalp.  He 
dropped  his  musket  and  jumped  and  <lanced  around  like  mad, 
cryin<r  out.  "I  am  killed,  I  am  killed,''  to  Steen's  amusement 
and  relief  from  the  knife,  by  divertino:  his  attention. 

After  the  ria"ht  winof  of  the  Mexican  army,  which  had  gotten 
away  behind  us,  had  been  checked,  it  began  to  fall  back  along 
the  base  of  the  mountains,  and  succeeded  tinally  in  reaching  the 
position  it  started  from  by  a  fr/'ck  of  Santa  Anna's.  Under  a 
flag  of  truce,  which  our  troops  respected,  he  sent  a  message  to 
Gen.  Taylor  ^''fo  hnon'  irhut  ln^  irniitrd^^  and  when  our  troops 
stop])ed  tiring  he  withdrew  his  right  wing.'^ 

After  this  came  the  last  great  efl'ort  of  the  enemy.  He  massed 
his  troo):>s  and  made  the  second  grand  attack  very  much  as  he 
did  in  the  morning,  and  over  the  same  ground.  How  near  he 
came  l)eing  successful  by  this  sudden  attack  on  the  force  centered 
about  Angostura  while  so  many  of  our  men  were  away  near  the 
base  of  the  mountains  in  our  rear,  you  will  tind  in  the  published 
accounts  of  the  battle;  and  it  was  caused  by  the  enemy  making 
the  attack  before  our  troops  could  get  on  the  plateau  by  reason 
of  the  circuitous  route  around  the  ravines  that  could  not  be 
crossed.  I  did  not  see  this  last  struggle.  Lieut.  O'Brien  lost 
his  guns.  Hragg  would  have  lost  his  in  a  few  minutes  had  not 
our  battery  and  Davis's  and  Lane's  regiments  arrived  the  mo- 
ment they  did  to  meet  the  advancing  mass  of  the  enemy.  It  was 
a  death  struggle.  Oni'  concentrated  tire  swept  away  the  advan- 
cing line,  the  second  faltered,  halted,  fell  back,  and  the  field  was 
won. 

Santa  xVnna,  when  referring  to  this  battle,  frequently  declared 
that  he  "won  the  victory,  only  Gen.  Taylor  did  not  know  when 

*The  Mexican  story  is:  That  a  Mexican  lieutenant  in  the  first  line  got 
mixed  up  with  our  troops  and  feigned  a  jxirley  and  was  carried  to  Gen. 
Taylor.  This  was  followed  by  his  returning  to  the  Mexican  line  accom- 
panied b}^  two  American  officers  to  have  an  interview  with  vSanta  Anna. 
Then  our  line  stopped  firing  and  theirs  did  not.  If  this  Mexican  officer 
bore  a  flag  of  truce,  it  would  explain  why  we  stopped  firing,  and  I  am 
quite  sure  he  did.  * 


84  Two  Wars. 

he  was  whij)i)e(l,"  and  just  stayed  there,  while  /te  was  ol)lio'ed  to 
o^o  back  tor  Avater,  provisions,  and  forage,  and  left  the  lield  to 
Taylor,  i  take  this  occasion  to  express  my  gratitication  to  San- 
ta Anna,  even  at  this  late  date,  for  not  staying  on  the  held  he 
had  won,  and  1  acknowledge  his  distinguished  consideration  in 
permitting  me  to  remain  at  Saltillo.  How  vexatious  it  must 
have  been  to  Santa  Anna  in  his  old  age  to  recall  to  mind  that  the 
ignorance  of  Gen.  Taylor  in  not  knowing  he  was  whip})ed  so 
changed  his  destiny,  and  no  douht  he  thought  how  truthful  is 
the  line: 

••  WIrto  ijrnoraiife  is  bliss  "tis  lolly  to  Ije  wise." 

^^'e  had  present  4,691  ofhcers  and  men,  and  our  loss  was: 
killed,  272;  wounded,  388;  missing,  6;  total,  666.  The  relative 
number  of  wounded  to  the  killed  is  very  remarkable.  Usually 
there  are  five  or  more  wounded  to  one  killed.  The  enemy  num- 
bered over  20,000  men.  Although  their  reports  place  their  loss 
at  over  4,000,  it  falls  short  of  the  real  numl)er. 

At  dawn  on  the  following  morning  it  was  discovered  that  Santa 
Anna  had  retreated  to  Agua  Nueva.  Gen.  Taylor,  with  a  proper 
escort,  rode  to  Encantada  and  sent  Col.  Bliss  to  Santa  Anna  for 
an  exchange  of  prisoners  captured  before  the  battle.  This  was 
effected.  The  wounded  Mexicans  even  from  Encarnacion  were 
removed  to  Saltillo  for  medical  care. 

Here  we  have  the  achievements  of  one  plain,  un])retending 
practical,  common  sense  man,  who  was  ever  observant  of  duty, 
and  whose  declaration  was,  'T  will  fight  the  enemy  wherever  I 
find  him,"  summed  up  in  four  victories — Palo  Alto,  Resaca, 
Monterey,  and  Buena  Vista.  Success,  ordinarily,  is  the  meas- 
uic  of  the  ofreatness  of  a  soldier. 


CHAPTER  YIT. 

Drs.  T.  C.  Mtulisou.  U.  S.  A.,  and  G.  M.  I'rovosL  —Surgical  Operation — 
Courtesy  of  a  Mexican  Woman — Leave  Saltillo — Paltry  Escort)— Safe  at 
Monterey — The  Rio  Grande — Maj.  W.  W.  H.  Davis— New  Orleans- 
Gen.  Pillow — Col.  Mcintosh — Bailey  Beyton  and  Sargeant  S.  Prentiss — 
Drunk  l\y  Al)sorption — Steamer  for  Louisville — Racing  on  the  River — 
Trij)  to  Pittsi)urg.  Pa. — By  Canal  Boat  to  Harrisburg — Hojne — Report 
to  the  Adjutant  (Jeneral — (io  to  Trenton,  N.J. — Presentation  of  a  Sword 
— Go  to  Wa.shington — John  W.  Forney's  Bargain  with  Secretary  Buch- 
anan—Capt.  A.  W.  Reynolds— Sent  to  Troy,  N.  Y. — Gen.  Wool — Leave 
Buffalo — Toledo — To  Cincinnati  by  Canal — Society  in  Cincinnati — Ap- 
pointed Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster — Start  for  Washington — 
Cross  the  Alleghany  Mountains  by  Stage — Six  Commissions  in  United 
States  Army"— Reception  by  Gen.  Jesup — Capt.  Rufus  Ingalls. 

I  NOW  come  l)aek  to  personal  matters.  The  weather  was 
spriiitrlike.  The  door  of  my  room  in  Saltillo  opened  on  the 
street  on  a  level  with  the  pavements,  and  throuarh  it  and  the  win- 
dows I  could  see  all  the  passersby,  and  it  imparted  a  cheerful- 
ness to  the  surroundings. 

My  physician  was  Thomas  C.  Madison,  United  States  army, 
a  most  estimable  gentleman  and  skillful  surgeon.  Several  con- 
sultations were  held  in  my  case.  They  would  not  cut  for  the 
l)all  l)ecause  they  could  not  discover  where  it  was.  I  was  be- 
coming emaciated,  and  felt  conscious  that  I  could  not  live  unless 
the  ball  was  removed.  I  had  now  been  on  the  cot  over  forty 
days,  and  I  demanded  that  they  should  extract  the  ball,  for  1 
could  tell  them  mhere  it  was.  So  next  day  Dr.  Madison  came, 
and  with  him  Dr.  (xrayson  M.  Prevost.  They  declined  to  use 
the  knife,  but  promised  to  come  on  the  morrow,  and  Dr.  Madi- 
son came  alone  next  morning.  No  one  was  present  but  my  serv- 
ant. I  placed  my  finger  over  where  I  was  sure  the  ball  was  then 
located,  and  told  him  to  perform  his  duty,  that  I  was  responsible 
for  the  result.  In  those  days  there  was  no  anaesthetic  known, 
and  surgical  instruments  were  not  often  made  for  special  pur- 
poses. As  I  predicted,  the  doctor  foimd  the  ball.  I  was  watch- 
ing his  face  intently,  and  the  moment  he  toitched  the  ball  I  saw 
an  expression  of  delight  come  over  his  countenance.  Suffice  to 
say,  for  the  want  of  modern  instruments,  he  cut  a  gash,  or  hole, 
large  enough  to  insert  his  finger  and  a  large  steel  hook  to  get 


86  Two  Wars. 

the  l);ill  out.  I  think  the  doctor  was  in  a  hcttcr  humor  tlian  I 
was.  tor  I  had  said  had  words  to  niy  servant  for  not  hohlinirniy 
foot.  I  found  afterwards  it  was  the  tetanus  that  cramped  or 
conti'acted  the  nuiscU's  of  the  lea'-  In  three  days  I  manaired  to 
sit  on  tiie  side  of  my  cot;  and  some  days  after,  with  crutches, 
I  went  to  tlie  door  and  looked  into  the  street. 

And  now  1  must  tell  you  a  little  incident.  From  my  cot  I 
could  see  a  Mexican  woman  Who  almost  every  afternoon  would 
sit  on  her  doorstep.  She  nnist  have  been  very  old,  for  her  hair 
was  as  white  as  snow,  her  cheeks  wei'e  hony,  and  her  hands  with- 
out tlesh.  vShe  must  have  sympathized  with  me,  thoua'h  her  en- 
emy in  war,  for  on  seein<r  iiie  at  my  door  she  rose  from  her  scat, 
made  a  slight  courtesy,  and  soon  after  sent  me  a  bunch  of  fresh 
flowers  by  a  little  o"ii'l. 

■One  toiu-h  of  iialure  mukcs  the  wiiolc  world  akin." 

Sometime  early  in  April  I  was  infoi-med  that  1  could  have  an 
ambulance,  with  leave  to  return  to  the  United  States  and  report 
to  the  Adjutant  (jcneral  in  Washington. 

I  was  furnished  with  an  escort  of  firo  men  on  horses  and  my 
servant,  live  in  all,  to  pass  throuo;h  the  enemy's  country  to  Mon- 
terey, a  protection  really  inadequate.  A\'c  reached  Riuconada 
late  in  the  day.  and  my  bed  was  the  counter  of  an  abandoned 
store.  The  next  day  we  arrived  at  Monterey  safely,  and  1  was 
made  very  coDifortal)le  by  the  quartermaster.  I  remained  in  the 
city  until  a  train  of  wa<jons  left  for  C'amara'o  for  army  supplies, 
and  Avhen  we  started  I  took  one  ''last,  lono-,  lingering'""  look  at 
the  surroundings  of  the  city  which  had  but  a  few  months  before 
been  to  me  so  pregnant  with  exciting  events. 

The  journey  to  Camargo  was  devoid  of  particular  interest.  1 
found  a  government  steamer  there,  and  took  passage  for  Point 
Isabel,  or  Barzos  Santiago.  On  the  trij)  down  the  river  we  saw 
a  great  many  cattle  that,  in  attempting  to  get  water,  had  sunk 
in  the  mud  to  perish.  Some  had  only  their  heads  visible;  others, 
a  ])art  of  their  bodies.  It  was  a  piteous  sight  to  see  the  poor 
beasts,  while  yet  ali\(*,  l)eing  devoured  by  buzzards. 

When  I  arrived  at  Matamoras  Capt.  W.  W.  H.  Davis  came 
down  to  the  steamer  to  see  me.  He  was  a  student  with  us  at 
liiu'lington,  N.  .!.,  and  was  a  general  in  the  United  States  army 
during  the  late  wai-,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Doylestown,  Pa. 


An  RIVAL  IX  New  Orleans.  87 

Wlu'ii  in  ^rntanioras  he  was  a  incinbcr  of  the  stafi'  of  (ieii.  Ca- 
leb C'lishino-.  lie  had  retained  my  mail,  and  brought  it  to  me  on 
the  steamer.  Among  the  letters  was  one  from  Hon.  Garret  D. 
\\'all  informing  me  that  the  eitizens  of  New  Jersey  had  eaused 
a  sword  to  be  made  for  me,  and  had  plaeed  it  in  his  hands  for 
l)resentation,  at  such  place  and  time  as  would  suit  my  conven- 
ience. This  was  a  surprise  to  me,  for  no  one  had  informed  me 
of  these  matters. 

On  arrival  at  Point  Isabel  there  were  a  ))rig  and  a  steamer 
ready  to  sail  for  New  Orleans.  I  was  put  on  board  the  brig,  l)ut 
it  was  so  dirty  that  1  could  not  remain,  preferring  to  risk  my 
life  on  the  old  sidewheel  steamer  James  L.  Day.  As  I  was  taken 
ashore  I  met  Col.  McClung,  of  Mississippi,  also  wounded,  going 
on  the  brig,  where  he  remained.  On  the  steamer  were  some 
otticers  on  their  way  to  New  Orleans  from  Gen.  Scott's  army, 
and  among  them  was  Gen.  Gideon  J.  Pillow,  who  was  ^vounded 
slightly  at  Cerro  Gordo.  The  steamer  was  unht  for  a  voyage  on 
the  ocean,  although  the  weather  was  calm  and  the  sea  smooth. 
I  amused  myself  watching  from  my  cot  the  partition  boards 
slide  up  and  down,  caused  by  the  gentle  rolling  of  the  vessel. 
On  reaching  New  Orleans  we  landed  aside  of  some  ship,  on  which 
I  was  placed,  put  in  a  chair,  hoisted  up  and  rim  out  the  yard- 
arm,  and  lowered  on  to  the  wharf. 

I  think  we  arrived  in  New  Orleans  about  the  ISth  of  May. 
At  the  St.  Charles  I  met  a  number  of  old  friends,  army  offi- 
cers and  civilians,  and  among  the  latter  were  Col.  Bailey  Peyton 
and  S.  S.  Prentiss.  In  a  few  days  I  learned  to  locomote  very 
well  on  one  leg  and  my  crutches. 

Some  few  days  after  we  arrived  in  the  city  a  grand  illmuina- 
tion  and  street  procession  was  gotten  up  to  celebrate  some  vic- 
tory of  our  army  in  Mexico,  and  late  in  the  afternoon  a  commit- 
tee called  on  me  to  participate.  About  8  v.u.  Col.  Macintosh 
and  myself  were  escorted  to  a  l)arouche  drawn  by  four  white 
horses,  to  take  our  place  in  the  line  of  procession.  The  streets 
were  crowded  with  people.  The  horses  did  not  like  the  crowd, 
the  shouts,  the  music,  nor  the  transparencies,  and  manifested  it 
by  frequently  standing  upon  their  hind  legs;  and  had  it  become 
necessary  to  get  out  of  the  carriage,  I  w'as  not  able  to  do  so.  The 
Colonel  and  I  were  put  on  exhibition  as  two  "  heroes"  from  the 
war.     The  Colonel,  as  you  remember,  deserved  it,  for  he  was 


88  Tn^o  W.iRs. 

once  innned  to  tlu*  oarth  willi  tmyonots  and  laiu-os.  One  l>ay()nct 
Aveiit  iu  liis  inoulli  and  passed  llirouirli  Ins  neck  into  tlie  earth. 
I  rejoice  to  say  we  were  returned  to  our  landlord,  tVoni  whom 
we  had  been  l)()rrowed,  safely.  1  write  this  to  show  you  how 
evanescent  these  thin<js  are.  To-day  we  are  the  idols  of  the  crowd; 
to-morrow  we  pass  alon^  the  same  street  unobserved,  unheeded, 
unknown  save  to  friends.  So  passes  away  much  of  the  orlory  of 
this  world. 

One  evening  after  tea  Col.  Peyton  and  Mr.  Prentiss  asked  me 
if  I  was  able  to  join  them  in  a  short  Avalk  down  the  street.  We 
had  gone  but  a  little  A\ay  when,  passing  a  door,  Ave  heard  some 
one  speaking,  and  loud  applause  in  a  hall,  the  floor  of  which  was 
on  a  level  with  the  pavement.  Mr.  l^eyton  said:  "Let  us  go 
in.''  It  proved  to  be  a  political  meeting  called  for  the  i)urpose 
of  expressing  a  preference  for  some  one  of  the  prominent  men  in 
the  Whig  ]iai-ty  for  the  presidency.  ^Slr.  Hunt,  who  was  speak- 
ing, closed  his  address  in  a  fcAv  minutes  after  we  entered.  We 
were  close  to  the  door  by  which  we  had  entered.  Some  one  saw 
]\rr.  Prentiss,  and  called  out:  "  PrentissI"  He  turned  to  gain  the 
street,  but  the  crowd  Avould  not  let  him  pass,  Avhile  ''Prentiss I 
Prentiss!"  came  from  a  hundred  mouths.  He  exclaimed  to  his 
friend:  "AVhy  didAve  come  here?"  There  Avas  no  alternative 
but  to  face  the  standing  crowd.  He  uncovered  his  hea<l  and  in 
a  few  words  excused  himself.  It  was  in  vain  I  The  cry  Avasev- 
eryAvhere:  "(to  to  the  platform  I"  (ietting  into  a  chair  that 
chanced  to-])e  near  the  door,  he  spoke  somcAvhat  as  follows,  as  1 
recall  it  after  a  lapse  of  near  fifty  years: 

M?:  Chairman  and  Friends :  As  I  Avas  passing  along  this  street  with  some 
friends  1  saw  lights  in  this  room  and  heard  loud  applause,  and  Ave  entered 
to  ascertain  Avhat  Avas  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  from  the  closing  re- 
marks made  by  the  distinguished  gentleman  wlio  has  jnst  taken  his  seat  I 
can  infer  the  object  of  this  assemblage. 

AVhen  a  young  lady  has  Ijcen  robed  for  a  grand  ball  her  maid  o])ens  and 
places  on  the  toilet  table  before  her  her  jewelry  case,  that  she  may  select 
such  as  Avill  be  the  most  appropriate  for  the  occasion.  She  takes  out  the 
sapphires  and  arrays  them  on  lier  person  to  embellish  her  charms,  but  she 
places  them  on  the  table  before  her.  The  attendant  encircles  her  sAvanlike 
neck  with  pearls,  emblems  of  her  ))urity,  but  she  has  them  placed  beside 
the  sajjphii-es.  They  ])ut  diamonds  in  her  ears,  and  the  sparkling  cross 
rests  on  her  Ijosom,  Hashing  incessant  lights  as  it  rises  and  falls  witli  every 
breath.  She  surveys  them  carefully;  then  has  them  removed  and  put  aside 
also.     And  nf)\v  rnl)ies,  the  most  costly  of  stones,  are  contrasted  witii  hi'f 


S.  S.  Prentiss.  89 

fair  complexit^ii;  iiiul  at  last  they  too  are  removed  and  laid  with  the  oth- 
ers. She  surveys  theui  all,  contrasts  their  qualities,  and  as  each  would  be 
alike  appropriate  for  the  occasion,  she  stands  undecided  which  is  prefer- 
al)le.  Now.  Mr.  Cliairmari,  when  I  open  the  casket  of  Whig  jewels,  and 
ga/e  on  tlu'ir  varied  brilliancy,  I  am  as  undecided  as  the  young  lady  was. 
They  ditTor  in  some  respects,  but  each  is  qualified  for  the  opportunity,  and 
I  hesitate  which  I  would  commend  as  most  worthy  to  occupy  the  pi'esi- 
<U'iitial  chair. 

How  niocl\'  he  evades  an  expression  of  preference  for  any  one 
for  the  otHc-e,  and  this  without  offense  to  any  of  the  aspirants'. 

While  s})eakin(r  of  ]\Ir.  Prentiss  I  will  relate  to  you  as  best  I 
can  a  story  of  his  reply  to  Mr.  P.,  wlio  accused  him  of  intoxica- 
tion while  they  Avere  each  niakinof  the  joint  canvass  for  Conofress 
from  Mississippi.  And  I  will  premise  it  by  stating  that  P.  had 
the  reputation  of  l)ein<r  a  lover  of  whisky.  It  Avas  before  a  large 
and  a})preciative  audience  of  Prentiss's  friends,  and  in  joint  de- 
l)ate  that  the  charge  was  made.  In  replying  to  that  Mr.  Pren- 
tiss said  in  his  rejoinder,  as  I  heard  it  related: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen :  Many  of  you  know  me  well,  youliave  been  pres- 
ent with  me  at  numei-ous  social  entertainments,  and  1  acknowledge  it  is 
true  that  I  have  a  taste  for  the  light  wines  of  Itah'  and  the  pleasant  wines 
of  France.  Wines  have  been  the  common  beverage  of  mankind  on  festive 
occasions  from  the  remotest  ages.  Thej'  impart  a  genial  Avarmth  to  vay 
feelings,  a  glow  of  tenderness  to  my  heart,  awaken  my  imagination,  en- 
large my  sympathy,  and  give  to  music  enrapturing  charms,  until  in  the 
fullness  of  joy  I  forget  the  ills  of  life  and  love  my  fellow-men. 

I  assure  you,  my  friends,  I  have  never  been  drunk  from  drinking  whis- 
ky: but  my  opponent  here  is  never  so  happy  as  Avhen  he  retires  to  his 
reborn  and  draws  from  the  closet  his  demijohn  of  whisky,  throws  it  over 
his  back,  tips  it  over  his  shoulder:  and  no  music  is  so  SAveet  to  his  ear  as 
the  sound  of  the  A^iiisky  singing  "gurgle,  gurgle,  gurgle,"  as  it  leaps  into 
the  cup,  saA'e  only  that  other  sound  of  "gargle,  gargle,  gargle,"  as  he  pours 
it  doAvn  his  capacious  throat. 

I  have  told  j'ou  that  I  have  never  been  drunk  from  drinking  whisky. 
But  hj  Avhisky,  ah!  I  remember  me  now;  I  Avas  once  made  drunk,  and  it 
happened  in  this  AvaJ^  Sometime  ago  I  had  occasion  to  attend  court  in 
a  remote  county,  sparcelj'  settled,  and  Avhere  there  Avas  but  little  accom- 
modation for  the  court.  I  arri\ed  after  night  and  rejjaired  to  the  house 
pointed  out  to  me  where  1  could  get  lodging.  The  proprietor  said  his 
rooms  Avere  all  full,  but  there  Avas  one  room  occupied  by  a  hiAvyer  that 
had  a  double  bed  in  it,  and  perhaps  he  Avould  share  it  with  me.  When  I 
was  ready  to  retire  the  landlord  took  a  tallow  candle  and  conducted  me 
to  the  room.  By  the  dim  light  I  saw  m^'  present  opponent  in  bed  asleep, 
oblivious  to  sounds.     I  retired  and  slept  by  his  side.    When  morning  came 


90  Two  Wars. 

I  found  myself  possessed  of  :i  strantic  fi'i'liiiti;  I  was  dizzy,  sick,  drunk. 
Yes.  ilrioik  bij  ((h.^orptioit ! 

\\\\v\\  Mr.  Prentiss  l)eo;an  the  <ri"eat  speeeli  lie  made  in  New 
York  City  a  elerofvnian  took  his  watch  from  his  pocket  to  note 
tlic  time;  and  two  hours  after,  when  Mr.  Prentiss  fell  exhausted, 
this  clerofvman  felt  his  pocket  for  his  watch.  It  was  o:one,  and  he 
thouirht  he  was  rohhed,  until  he  discovered  his  watch  open  in  his 
left  hand.  He  was  .so  captivated  and  cii  rdppoii  with  the  won- 
derful orator  that  he  was  oblivious  to  time,  and  stood  there  in 
the  vast  crowd  listeninsf  to  the  words  as  they  fell  from  his  lips. 
Turnina:  to  a  friend,  he  exclaimed:  "Never  tell  me  that  man  is 
not  inspired." 

I  could  tell  you  many  thino:s  about  this  remarkal^le  man,  but 
time  and  other  matters  forbid.  I  will  say,  however,  that  1 
l)elieve  that  Alcj'aiider  Tlaniilton  and  S.  8.  Prenti><K  head  the 
li.st  of  all  men  in  the  L'nited  States  who  have  achieved  jjreat- 
ness  in  early  life.  Prentiss's  oratory  burst  on  the  people  like 
,a  meteor  athwart  the  sky.  and  ended  as  suddenly  with  his  early 
death. 

\\'hen  1  left  New  Orleans  the  suro:eons  advised  me  that  1  slxjuld 
«:o  l)y  water  as  far  as  I  could  on  my  journey  north,  and  avoid 
the  shaking  of  the  railroad  cars.  I  took  passage  on  the  steamer 
Chancellor  for  Louisville,  and  when  we  backed  out  from  the 
levee  and  headed  up  the  river  we  saw  a  steamer — the  Belle  of  the 
West.  I  think  it  was — close  ))ehind  us,  and  then  the  race  ))egan. 
For  fifteen  himdred  miles  it  was  a  bitter  struggle;  first  one  ahead 
and  then  the  other,  according  to  the  landings  made.  Now  the 
Belle  would  be  ahead  and  then  our  pilot  would  quit  the  main 
channel  and  by  taking  the  "chutes"  come  out  ahead.  Then  we 
would  ])e  overtaken  and  run  side  hy  side.  Often  the  two  boats 
ran  with  their  guards  touching,  allowing  the  passengers  of  the 
two  steamers  to  converse  with  each  other  and  have  a  jolly  time. 
On  the  Belle  was  a  lady  with  her  three  daughters,  of  whom  you 
will  heai'  iiioic  hereafter.  At  Paducah,  iindingaiunnl)er  of  l)ar- 
rels  of  resin,  our  captain  bought  them  to  use  with  the  wood  to 
increase  the  steaiu.  So  on  and  on  we  went,  with  boilers  hissing 
and  volinnes  of  black  smoke  rolling  from  the  smokestacks  or 
chinmeys,  forming  great  clouds  that  were  wafted  away  by  the 
winds.  After  five  or  six  days  and  nights  of  clanking  of  the  tire 
doors,  ringing  of  tiic  bells  above  and  below,  and  the  blowing  of 


U  AC  INC   ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI.  91 

whistles,  we  arrived  at  L(»uisville  just  tifteen  minutes  hcliind  the 
Belle. 

When  I  look  l)a('k  on  the  danofer  incurred  from  the  e\[)losion 
of  a  boiler,  I  cannot  recall  to  mind  one  word  of  protest  from  any 
})assenirer  asrainst  carryino'  such  a  hiofh  pressure  of  steam,  or  of 
asking  the  ollicers  to  desist.  On  the  contrary,  every  one  would 
shout  for  joy  and  wave  their  handkerchiefs  on  the  passinir  boat. 

However  reprehensible,  those  races  were  connnon  in  the  palmy 
days  of  steaml)()ats  on  the  ''Father  of  Waters.'" 

P>om  Louisville  I  went  to  Cincinnati,  thence  on  a  small  steam- 
er to  Pittsburof.  Here  I  took  passage  on  a  canal  boat  for  the 
east.  As  time  was  no  o])ject  to  me,  I  was  not  impatient  of  delay, 
and  enjoyed  the  wild  mountain  scenery  of  the  AUefrhanies,  and 
the  pretty  views  along  the  l)lue  ffuniata;  and  as  chance  would 
have  it,  among  the  passengers  were  the  lady  (Mrs.  J.  L.  Rol)- 
erts)  and  her  daughters  that  were  on  the  Belle  of  the  AA^est,  to 
whom  I  was  presented  by  the  gentleman  who  came  to  Pittsburg 
to  meet  them.  They  went  by  canal  because  one  of  them  had 
been  injured  l)y  having  been  thrown  from  their  carriage.  From 
this  time  on  they  were  kind  friends  of  mine,  and  I  recall  with 
delight  the  many  happy  days  that  I  subsequently  passed  at  their 
home  on  their  plantation  back  of  Natchez,  Miss. 

I  reached  home  in  June,  an<l  my  father  and  mother  welcomed 
me — whom  the  newspapers  had  reported  killed  in  battle — with 
a  joy  not  unlike  that  given  to  him  for  whom  the  fattened  calf 
was  killed. 

1  soon  reportetl  at  the  Adjutant  Gen eraFs office,  and  was  gi\en 
indefinite  leave.  Returning  home,  I  received  a  note  from  a  friend 
in  the  office  of  the  Quartermaster  General  soon  aftei',  telling  me 
that  there  were  some  vac-ancies  in  the  quartermaster's  depart- 
ment, and  that  if  I  would  return  to  Washington  and  report  to 
the  dej)artnient  for  duty  I  might  l)e  made  captain  and  assistant 
quartermaster  in  the  regular  stall';  but  I  did  not  go  until  some- 
time in  July. 

I  received  a  letter  from  Senator  G.  D.  Wall  stating  that  it  was 
the  wish  of  the  conunittee  that  I  should  be  in  Trenton  on  the 
fourth  of  July  to  receive  the  sword  that  was  to  be  presented  to 
rae.  So  I  repaired  to  Burlington,  and  in  company  with  him  and 
the  Rt.  Rev.  (t.  W.  Doane,  bishop  of  New  Jersey,  went  to  Tren- 
ton.    When  the  people  were  leaving  the  hotel  for  the  public 


92  Two  JFahs. 

liall  wliere  the  presentation  was  to  take  place,  the  Senator  sent 
mv  the  nianusi'i-ipt  of  his  intended  remarks.  It  was  too  hite  to 
w  rite  anylhinir  in  reply,  as  the  carriages  were  waitinof;  so  Ave 
ofot  in  and  went  to  the  hall.  I  was  very  much  frightened.  There 
were  many  on  the  stage  oi-  i)latform,  and  among  them  an  otiicer 
of  the  navy  in  uniform.      I  had  on  a  citizen's  dress. 

Mr.  A\'all  made  a  very  ap])ropriate  address,  and  delivered  the 
sword  to  me.  I  am  sure  that  I  made  a  very  poor  reply,  and  the 
only  good  thing  was  its  brevity.  But  think  of  it!  Wall  did  not 
say  anything  that  he  had  written,  but  made  an  extempore  speech, 
nuich  to  my  surprise.  When  it  was  ended  Senator  W.  I><.  Day- 
ton said  to  the  (ieneral:  '.'You  made  an  excellent  address.'' 
'•AVell,  1  have  a  much  better  one  in  my  pocket,"  was  his  reply. 
As  I  was  comparatively  a  stranger  to  most  of  the  large  audience, 
I  think  the  otiicer  in  uniform  was  taken  for  me,  for  when  I  rose 
to  receive  the  sword  there  was  a  hum  of  surprise  all  over  the 
house.  I  was  glad  when  the  presentation  was  ended.  The  next 
thing  in  order  was  to  dine  with  the  "Society  of  the  Cincinnati," 
of  New  Jersey.  I  was  invited  to  dine  with  the  "Society  of  the 
Cincinnati  "  of  Pennsylvania  also,  Imt  declined.  One  dinner  was 
ample,  and  I  was  not  strong. 

In  a  day  or  two  1  returned  to  Washington.  I  was  ordered  by 
Dr.  A.  S.  Wotherspoon  to  (juit  all  labor,  and  after  he  had  ban- 
daged my  leg  he  kept  me  on  my  back  three  weeks.  It  did  no 
good;  no  adhesion  of  the  parts  was  made.  I  was  vexed;  so  I 
took  from  my  trunk  a  l)ottle  of  I  know  not  what,  obtained  in 
NeW'  Orleans,  only  it  smelled  of  turpentine,  and  injected  it  into 
the  wound.  1  got  up  in  the  morning  to  go  home,  but  lo  and  be- 
hold, the  bandages  Mere  all  satui-ated  with  blood  and  the  wound 
inflamed.  So,  instead  of  going  home.  T  was  put  on  my  back  again. 
llo\\c\('r  that  injection  iiiilaiiied  the  sinus  in  my  leg.  and  when 
))andaged  again  all  the  interior  grew  together,  and  in  three  weeks 
I  was  on  my  ci-utches,  and  n)y  toes,  or  foot,  touched  the  ground 
for  the  first  time  for  about  six  months.  So  I  was  ])ernianently 
cured  l»y  accident. 

I  had  made  ai)])lication  to  the  I'resident  for  the  ai)poinfnient 
of  assistant  <iuart('rniaster  some  time  in  June.  Now  one  day  in 
Julv.  when  1  was  kept  in  bed  by  the  doctoi',  a  friend  of  mine, 
]\Ir.  Nugent,  came  to  my  room  to  impart  to  me  the  information 
thai   1   would  not  get  the  appointment  because  I  could  not  "take 


Not  Able  to  "Take  the  Field.'"  93 

the  tield,"'  and  that  it  would  be  given  to  Lieut.  A.  ^V.  Reynolds, 
who  was  in  I'hiladclphia  on  i-ecruitin^r  service.  Nuofent  was  con- 
nected with  a  newspaper,  and  was  at  times  an  assistant  in  the 
office  of  James  lUu  liaiian,  Secretary  of  State,  if  1  remember 
ariofht.  On  that  day  rJ.  W.  Forney,  editor  of  The  Pe»n.s!/lr<i- 
hiiiii.  a  Democratic  paper  in  Phihidelphia,  was  in  the  office  of 
Mr.  l^uchanan.  and  a.iri'ee<l  to  throw  George  M.  Dallas,  Vice 
President,  overboard  and  suj)|)ort  ]Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  })resi- 
dency  provided  certain  tilings  were  done  by  him  for  Mr.  For- 
ney. One  of  these  items  was  that  A.  W.  Reynolds  sliould  be 
appointed  assistant  quartermaster.  I  asked  Nugent  what  special 
service  Reynolds  had  rendered,  as  he  had  not  been  in  Mexico  at 
all.  to  entitle  him  to  promotion.  "Why  he  has  always  carried 
his  I'eci'iiits  to  the  polls  to  vote  for  Forney's  Democratic  friends." 
And  thus  it  was;  and  on  the  5th  of  August  Reynolds  was  ap- 
pointed "  to  take  the  field."  Reynolds  was  a  genial  fellow,  and 
"took  the  field"  by  remaining  in  Philadelphia  until  the  spring 
of  184S,  when  he  went  to  Matamoras  to  bring  some  nmles  to  the 
States. 

Lieut.  Derby,  alias  John  Plnenix,  alias  John  P.  Squibob,  that 
prince  of  humorists,  and  I  had  now  located  ourselves  on  Four- 
teenth Street,  near  Willard's,  expecting  to  have  a  pleasant  time 
during  the  coming  winter,  when  one  day  about  the  Sth  of  Sep- 
teml)er  a  messenger  from  the  War  Department  brought  nie  a 
note  asking  me  if  I  was  able  to  go  to  the  arsenal  at  Troy,  N.  Y,, 
to  select  a  six-gun  field  battery,  caissons,  harness,  etc.,  all  com- 
plete, and  take  it  with  me,  by  w^ay  of  the  lakes  and  canal,  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

I  replied  that  I  would  leave  immediately.  While  at  Troy  I 
met  (Jen.  Wool.  He  had  come  home  from  Buena  Vista.  He 
had  some  friends  to  meet  me  at  a  dining,  and  I  remember  his 
pun  on  a  young  lady  to  whom  I  was  presented.  "Miss  Hart,  cme 
of  deer  family."  The  l)attery  was  shipped  on  a  canal  })oat 
to  Buflalo.  1  went  l)y  train.  Stopped  in  Rochester  all  night. 
The  next  morning,  Oct()l)er  1(5,  the  ground  was  covered  with 
snow,  which  made  me  apprehensive  that  the  navigation  by  canal 
would  close  in  Ohio  before  I  could  reach  there.  When  the  steam- 
er arrived  at  Cleveland  the  water  had  l)een  let  out  of  the  canal, 
so  we  went  on  to  Toledo.  From  there  I  went  on  to  Cincinnati 
by  passenger  boat.     I  was  the  only  passenger,  except  local  ones 


94  Tuo  W.ih's. 

irettinof  on  and  ott'  alono:  the  route.  Toledo  was  no  town  at  all, 
and  the  sidewalks  were  ""paved"  with  <runwales  of  hariie  hoats, 
and  here  and  tiiere  a  })hink.  and  the  mud  I 

I  remained  in  Cincinnati  (huinn'  ilic  months  of  November  and 
December  idle,  awaitinjr  orders.  There  were  many  parties  ffiv- 
en,  and  the  society  peo})Ie  were  })leasant  and  accom})lished. 
Durino^  the  day,  however,  nearly  all  the  men  were  busy,  and  I 
used  to  say  there  were  but  three  younir  men  idle  in  the  city — 
Grosbeck.  Fe])io:er.  of  tlie  navy,  and  myself. 

Early  in  January,  1848,  Senator  ,J.  1).  Westcott  informed  me 
that  the  President  had  appointed  me  ca})tain  and  assistant  (piar- 
termaster.  and  sent  my  name,  amontr  others,  to  the  Senate  for 
contirmation. 

The  commission  is  dated  January  12,  1848.  1  had  been  in  the 
service  only  four  and  a  half  years  and  had  received  six  conunis- 
sions  —  viz.,  brevet  second  lieutenant.  United  States  army; 
second  lieutenant.  Third  Artillery;  ))revet  tirst  lieutenant,  United 
States  army:  tirst  lieutenant.  Third  Ai'tillery;  brevet  captain, 
I'^nited  States  army:  and  captain  and  assistant  quartermaster  in 
the  ofeneral  staff  of  the  army,  outrankino^  some  officers  that  had 
been  from  twelve  to  ei<rhteen  years  in  service.  The  brevets 
were  bestowed  for  "irallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  ))at- 
tles  of  ^lonterey  and  Buena  Vista,  Mexico." 

When  I  was  informed  of  the  a})pointment  I  went  u|)  the  river 
to  I)i()wnsville.  Pa.,  thence  to  Cumberland,  Md.,  bystaore.  The 
weather  was  intensely  cold.  Snow  covered  the  plains  and  the 
jnountains,  and'ti'avel  had  made  the  roads  very  smooth  and  slip- 
pery. In  ofoin<r  down  Laui'el  Mountain  we  l)arely  escaped  an 
acc-ident.  The  stairi'coach,  when  held  back,  would  swino- around 
on  the  icy  incline  and  iro  down  sideways,  and  to  prevent  this  the 
dri\ci'  irave  reins  to  the  horses  and  we  were  descending:  ata  o:al- 
loj).  when  turninu"  a  point  we  met  an  eiafht-mule  team  that  had 
tlic  inside  track,  leavino"  our  driver  just  a  possil)le  space  to  pass. 
He  mcasuied  the  space  and  saw  the  danger  instantly,  barely 
missed  the  hubs  of  the  enormous  waofon,  and.  as  he  sheered  in 
tx'hind  the  wa<ron.  oiu'  hind  wheel  on  the  riirlit  threw  down  the 
mountain  side  a  (|ii:iiitity  of  earth,  snow,  and  I'ocks.  There  were 
nine  of  us  in  the  coach,  which  <rave  us  the  privilei^e  of  stop))in<r 
at  niiflit.  A  incmbci-  of  the  Senate  from  Missoui-i  was  opposed 
t(i  the  dchiy:  he  nnist  l)c  in  \\'asliinL''toii.  and  so  the  party  was 


Exi'KiiiESCK  A  (Hood  Tkaciieu.  95 

(li\  idcd.  The  luiriow  ('sc!1}k'  from  death  vSettled  the  nuitter,  for 
when  we  jjot  out  for  supper  no  one  said  to  the  driver:  "'We  will 
<ro  on  to-niofht." 

On  arrivino;  in  Washino^ton  I  was  ordered  to  report  to  (Jen. 
Thomas  S.  Jesup,  Quartermaster  General  of  the  army.  lie  re- 
eeived  me  courteously,  but  observed  in  a  pleasant  manner:  "  Capt. 
French,  neither  you  nor  Capt.  Ruf  us  Ingalls  were  recommended 
l)y  me  for  appointment  in  my  department;  you  were  commis- 
sioned over  othcers  that  I  recommended.  Besides,  the  re^ulaticms 
of  the  army  forbids  any  officer  from  becoming  a  captain  and  as- 
sistant (juartermaster  until  he  has  heQnfve  year.sm  service,  and 
neitiier  of  you  have  been  in  the  army  five  years." 

It  was  suggested  to  him  that  experience  was  a  slow  but  very 
good  teacher;  that  one  of  his  last  appointees  had  not  })een  in  the 
tield.  while  Capt.  Ingalls  and  I  had  served  nearly  tW'O  years  in 
Mexico,  and  from  experience  had  derived  some  knowledge  of 
the  duties  of  officers  of  the  department  which  should  overbal- 
ance length  of  years  of  service  in  garrison  at  home,  and  that  we 
should  not  1)6  condemned  before  trial. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  Gen.  Ingalls  was  retained,  from 
the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  war,  as  the  chief  quartermaster 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  its  many  commanders.  It 
is  proof  of  his  great  administrative  ability. 


CHAPTEK  TITT. 

Ordored  to  New  Orleans— Baton  Rouge— Col.  W.  W.  S.  Bliss— Maj.  J.  H. 
Eaton — Maj.  K.  S.  Garnetl — Taylor  Nominated  for  President — Return 
to  New  Orleans — Ordered  to  Vieksburg — "Gen."  MeMaoken,  the  Prinee 
of  Landlords — Bishop  Polk — Sent  to  Mobile — Regular  Army  at  East  Pas- 
cagoula.  Miss. — Gen.  Twiggs  and  HisFianeee — Sail  for  Galveston — Gal- 
veston— Houston — Austin — Troops  Sent  to  Establish  Posts,  now  Cities — 
San  Antonio — Death  of  Gen.  Worth — El  Paso — Return  to  San  Antonio — 
New  Orleans — Call  on  Gen.  Twiggs— Twiggs  and  Tree — Sword  Pi'esented 
to  Me— Dine  at  the  PresidiMifs — Death  of  President  Taylor — Filhuoiv 
President — Capt.  Ringgold.  U.  S.  N. — Ordered  to  Louisville — Return  to 
Washington — Col.  Josei)li  Tajior — Gen.  W.  O.  Butler — Maj.  Gaines — 
Cincinnati — Salmon  P.  Chase. 

I^^'AS  ordered  to  report  for  duty  to  Col.  I).  D.  Tompkins 
in  New  Orleans,  and  remained  there  some  tliree  months. 
From  that  city  I  was  put  on  duty  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  where 
Gen.  Taylor  and  his  family  were  living  at  the  barracks.  Of  his 
stati'.  Col.  Bliss,  Maj.  Eaton,  and  Capt.  R.  S.  Garnett  were  with 
him.  One  day  I  was  walking  down  town  with  Mrs.  Taylor  and 
her  daughter  Bettie,  Avhen  a  steamer  landed,  and  brought  the 
new^s  of  the  General's  nomination  for  President.  Mrs.  Taylor 
expressed  regret  that  he  was  nominated;  said  "he  had  honors 
enough;"  but  added,  however,  "Since  he  lias  become  a  can- 
didate, I  hope  he  will  be  elected,  and  if  he  be.  1  will  not  preside 
at  the  White  House." 

From  Baton  Rouge  I  went  to  New  Orleans;  thence  to  Vicks- 
burg.  Miss.,  July  4.  1S4-.S,  to  muster  out  of  service  the  regi- 
ment of  Mississippi  riilemen  commanded  by  Col.  Reuben  M. 
Davis.  We  lived  at  the  Prentiss  House,  kept  by  that  prince  of 
landlords,  Gen.  McMacken,  w'ho  always  "cried"  his  bill  of  fare. 
He  said  that  when  he  kept  a  hotel  in  Jackson,  Miss.,  he  was 
obliged  to  do  so,  ])ecause  so  many  of  the  members  of  the  Legis- 
lature at  that  time  could  not  read  the  printed  ones,  and  he  con- 
tiiuied  it  to  the  day  of  his  death.  He  was  exceedingly  ])leasing 
in  manners.  On  one  occasion,  seeing  a  gentleman  of  a  com- 
manding presence  enter  the  dining  room  and  seat  himself  at 
the  table,  he  welcomed  him  with:  '"(iood  morning,  general." 
••That  is  not   m\'  tillc.  sir."     "'Ah,  excuse  me.   jiidii-c.""     "Mis- 


Gen.  TwKKis  Jealous.  97 

taken  again,  sir."  "Well,  bishop,  wliut  will  you  be  helped  to?" 
"Why  do  you  call  me  bishop  T'  "  Hecause  I  am  sure  that  you 
stand  at  the  head  of  your  profession,  whatever  it  may  be."  That 
gentleman  was  Bishop  Leonidas  Polk,  afterwards  a  Confederate 
genera  I. 

During  the  siuumer  and  fall  there  was  yellow  fever  in  Mobile 
and  New  Orleans;  but  no  one  regarded  it,  except  to  leave  the 
cities  at  night  if  ])ossi}»k':  during  the  day  business  went  on  as 
usual. 

On  my  return  to  New  Orleans  I  was  ordered  to  Mobile,  Ala., 
to  take  charge  of  government  property,  and  to  muster  out  a 
company  of  Alabama  cavalry.  This  finished,  1  was  kept  there 
awaiting  orders.  In  the  meantime  the  army  from  Mexico  had 
returned,  and  was  encamped  at  East  Pascagoula,  and  in  Septem- 
ber 1  was  ordered  there. 

The  evening  I  arrived  there  was  a  ball  given  at  the  hotel.  I 
met  there  a  young,  tall,  and  pretty  lady  from  Mobile,  with  whom 
I  was  acquainted.  She  personated  the  morning  star.  Leaving 
the  "floor,"  she  took  a  seat  on  a  sofa  beside  Gen.  Twiggs,  and 
I  seated  myself  on  the  other  side  of  her.  She  declined  several 
sets,  and  1  remained  talking  with  her.  All  the  while  the  Gen- 
eral said  but  a  few  words.  The  windows  were  open,  and  I  felt 
some  one  on  the  gallery  pull  my  hair.  I  went  out  to  ascertain 
the  meaning  of  it.  Two  or  three  officers  came  up,  and  said: 
"French,  don't  unpack  your  trunk;  you  will  be  ordered  away 
in  the  morning.  Don't  you  know  that  young  lady  is  Gen. 
Twiggs's  fiancee  :^  He  is  as  jealous  as  a  Barbary  cock."  I  men- 
tion this  because  of  something  hereafter. 

I  remained  in  Pascagoula  until  the  army  had  been  sent  hither 
and  thither,  according  to  the  wants  of  the  service.  The  last 
shipment  of  troops  was  some  cavalry  to  Galveston,  and  I  fol- 
lowed on  after  them,  last  of  all,  in  an  old  propeller.  It  so  hap- 
pened, as  I  was  leaving  the  wharf,  that  a  captain  of  a  vessel  had 
just  made  an  observation  of  the  sun  to  get  the  time,  and  I  set  my 
watch  })y  it.  When  we  got  out  on  the  gulf  a  cyc^lone  came  on. 
The  ship  had  no  chronometer,  and  only  anthracite  coal,  which 
made  but  little  steam.  The  propeller  was  now  spinning  in  the 
air;  then  motionless  when  under  water.  Finally  the  captain  had 
to  run  before  the  wind  to  the  south. 

Some  days  after,  when  running  north,  we  saw  land,  and  made 


98  Tir-o  Wars. 

oltsiTvations.  I  ^ot  the  lt)niritu(k'  from  my  watch.  Tt  said  thirty 
miles  from  Galveston.  The  ca])tain  said  that  the  land  was  the 
mouth  of  the  Sabine  river.  Two  hours  after,  we  saw  the  ship- 
pinjr  in  Galveston,  jirovinir  my  observation  correct.  The  wind 
was  still  l)lowin^  hard.  No  })il()t  l)oat  could  come  out  for  us. 
It  was  a  government  ship,  and  I  ordered  the  captain  to  make 
the  har]>or.  The  trou])le  was  to  find  the  outer  ])nov.  Finally 
it  was  discovered,  and  we  got  in  safely. 

Gen.  Twiggs  had  been  assigned  to  the  Department  of  Texas, 
and  I  found  him  in  Houston.  AVe  remained  there  a  few  days; 
and,  when  the  dragoons  started  for  Austin,  T^yiggs,  his  aid,  Capt. 
W.  T.  H.  Brooks,  and  I  took  the  stage  for  Austin  also.  It  had 
been  raining  all  day  and  all  night  when  we  started.  From  Hous- 
ton to  a  small  mound  on  the  prairie  twenty-tive  miles  on  the 
road  the  land  was  all  under  water,  and  still  it  rained.  AVe  crossed 
the  Brazos  river  about  noon,  and  went  on  in  the  rain,  which  con- 
tinued all  night.  At  '2  a.m.  the  driver  turned  out  of  the  road, 
and  down  went  the  coach  till  the  body  was  on  the  ground.  The 
driver  said  that  there  was  a  farmhouse  al)out  four  miles  farther 
on.  A  horse  was  unhitched,  and  Gen.  Twiggs  was  put  on  it 
bare))ack  to  ride  to  the  house.  Two  passengers  went  on  foot. 
I  had  in  a  satchel  >>r),00(>  in  gold  ( governnu'nt  funds),  Avhich  was  in 
the  box  under  the  hind  seat.  Brooks  said  that  he  would  stay  there 
and  guard  it,  if  I  would  go  on  and  get  helj).  I  also  mounted  a 
horse  and  overtook  the  (ireneral.  When  we  reached  the  house, 
the  farmer  got  up,  had  a  tire  made  to  (hy  our  clothing,  and  agreed 
to  send  some  mules  to  bring  in  the  coach.  The  General  made 
so  many  abusive  remarks  a])out  Texas  and  the  people  that  the 
farmer  got  mad,  and  said  that  the  stage  might  "stay  where  it 
was;"  but  when  he  was  satistied  that  the  remarks  made  by 
Twigg  were  not  personal,  he  started  the  servants  for  the 
<x>ach.  The  General  and  I  had  to  rest  in  the  one  bed  the  l^est 
we  could. 

The  coach  came  up  about  eight  in  the  morning.  T'heCieneral 
declared  that  he  would  go  no  farther,  but  return  to  New  Or- 
leans. Now,  the  truth  was,  he  wished  to  go  back  to  meet  that 
young  lady.  1  was  told  that  when  she  returned  to  Mobile  some 
of  her  old  and  ('X]>ei'icnced  friends  persuaded  her  to  marry  a 
younger  man.  who  had  long  solicited  her  hand.  When  the  Gen- 
ei-al    i'eachc(|    New   Orleans  he   was  sadly  disappointed;   hut    he 


OuDKiiKii  TO  El  Paso.  99 

t'ound  i-oiisoljition  soon  nfler  in  inarrviiiir  the  widow  of  Col. 
limit,  late  of  the  rnitod  States  anny. 

We  left  Taylor's  (the  fanner)  the  same  day,  and  went  on  to 
Phun  ("reek;  and,  as  it  was  not  fonhible,  we  had  to  stop  witli  a 
widow  and  her  two  (huisrhters.  Her  house  had  oidy  one  room, 
and  a  eoek  loft  irained  hy  a  ladder.  The  followinjjf  persons  found 
shelter  with  the  family  that  ni<rht — viz.,  Maj.  Ben  McCulloch, 
Dui'and  and  his  two  sisters,  our  two  passenofers,  the  postmaster, 
Brooks,  myself,  and  the  sta^e  driver — thirteen  in  num))er. 

After  supper  w^as  over  our  hostess  lit  her  cob  pipe,  and  enjoyed 
her  eveninsr  smoke,  after  which  she  politely  offered  it  to  those 
inclined  to  indulirc.  When  the  time  arrived  to  retire,  the  old 
woman  had  no  trouble  in  disposing  of  her  ten  guests.  She 
merely  said,  ''You  men  can  go  aloft,'- and  there  on  the  floor 
we  passed  the  night.  It  was  well  that  the  General  remained 
at  Taylor's.  The  morning  dawned  clear,  l)ut  the  creek  was 
not  fordable  until  noon.  In  the  course  of  time  the  stagecoach 
reached  Austin,  where  I  remained  during  the  winter,  fur- 
nishing transportation  for  troops  to  the  frontier;  and  where 
they  were  located  are  now  to  be  found  the  cities  of  Waco,  Dal- 
las, P'redericksburg,  etc.  The  sword  plants  the  banner,  and  a 
city  is  built  around  it. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1849,  I  received  an  order  from  the 
Quartermaster  General  to  go  to  San  Antonio  and  tit  out  a  train 
to  go  to  El  Paso  with  the  troops  to  be  stationed  there.  For  that 
purpose  I  bought  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty  oxen, 
and  collected  about  two  thousand  head  of  mules,  six  hundred  of 
which  were  wild  nniles  from  Mexico,  and  I  have  never  had  any 
admiration  for  that  animal  in  his  native  state  since,  for,  like  his 
sire  as  told  in  the  book  of  Job,  '*  neither  regardeth  he  the  cry- 
ing of  the  driver.'' 

To-day  (Noveml)er  22,  IStl-l-)  is  mj^  birthday,  and  I  am  now 
six  years  past  the  time  alloted  to  man  by  the  psalmist.  For 
this  I  am  truly  grateful  to  Him  from  whom  all  blessings  flow, 
and  I  Avill  henceforth  endeavor  to  walk  hum])ly  before  him. 

I  had  established  my  camp  on  the  prairie  about  nine  miles 
from  the  city,  where  there  were  almost  four  hundred  hired  men, 
Jn  March  the  cholera  made  its  appearance,  and  in  a  malignant 
form.  Some  cases  occurred  in  camp,  and,  as  I  could  not  get  a 
physician  to  go  out  there,  I  wrote  for  Dr.  Baker,  of  Austin,  an 


100  Tiro  ]VAiiS. 

elderly  man,  to  eoine  ovei-  and  take  c'hai-<re  of  it.  On  his  ar- 
rival 1  furnished  him  with  a  mule,  and  jrave  him  direetions  to 
tind  the  eamp.  Nioflit  came  on.  and  no  doctor  returned.  The 
next  morninir  about  nine  o'clock  he  rode  uj)  to  my  office  with 
his  umbrella  under  his  arm,  his  mouth  drawn  up.  the  ])icture  of 
despair.  I  asked  him:  "Are  many  sick  in  campr*  He  shook 
his  head  in  the  neirative.  He  was  invited  to  dismount  and 
come  into  the  office,  which  he  did,  and  told  his  grievance.  It  ap- 
])ears  that  he  found  cam)),  attended  to  the  few  sick,  and  stai'ted 
to  return  to  the  city.  When  he  leached  the  Salado,  a  small 
stream  a  few^  miles  from  town  that  was  about  ten  feet  wide,  his 
mule  declined  to  cross  the  creek;  neither  would  she  wet  hci' 
feet,  as  the  doctor  did,  and  })e  led  ()\er.  All  attempts  were  fu- 
tile. So,  worn  out,  the  doctor  sought  the  shelter  of  a  tree,  and 
sat  there  all  night  holding  in  his  hands  the  bride  reins.  In  tlie 
morning  the  animal  was  still  stubborn,  and  the  doctor  in  de- 
spair. No  lone  sailor  on  a  raft  in  midocean  hailed  an  ap- 
proaching sail  with  more  delight  than  did  the  doctor  a  Mexi- 
can coming  down  the  road.  He  made  known  his  tr<)u])le  to 
the  Mexican,  who  said:  "Si,  Senor,  me  lix  him."  The  man 
got  ort'  his  own  nmle,  mounted  the  doctor's,  rode  oft'  about  iifty 
yards;  then  ap})lying  whip  and  spur  at  every  leap,  the  mule 
could  not  stop,  but  was  |)lunged  into  the  water.  He  rode 
(]uietly  across  three  or  four  times,  and  then  the  doctor  had  no 
more  trouble.  The  next  trip  the  doctor  was  furnished  with  a 
pony.  He  was  a  kind  old  gentleman,  and  went  on  with  us  to 
El  Paso  as  physician. 

In  May  Gen.  Worth  arrived  to  take  conunand  of  the  depai't- 
ment.  A  few  days  after,  he  died  of  cholera,  and  the  conunand 
devolved  on  Gen.  W.  S.  Harney. 

The  expedition  to  Paso  del  Norte  was  under  the  conunand  of 
Maj.  fJerterson  Van  Home,  Engineei'  Officer  Col.  .1.  E.  Johnston, 
and  the  Quartermaster  (n)yself ).  Tlic  ()l)ject  of  the  expedition 
was  to  march  a  part  of  the  thii'd  regiment  of  infantry  to  Paso 
del  Xorte  to  garrison  that  i)lacc.  and  my  train  was  to  convey 
public  stores  there  for  tlicir  futuic  use  and  to  open  a  ])ublic  road 
to  that  ])oint  now  called  El  Paso.  There  was  uo  road,  not  a 
path,  from  San  Antonio  to  Paso  del  Xorte.  All  was  an  un- 
known, unti-dddcu  extent  of  plains,  hills,  and  mountains  over 
which    perhaps   no   while    man    had    cNcr    traxcled.    ext'ej)t    two 


*  a  RAPES  AND  Cacti.  101 

I'nited  States  engineers  who  liiid  ridden  over  it  in  reluiiiing 
from  New  Mexico. 

We  left  Sun  Antonio  ffune  1,  1<S41*,  and  arrived  at  VA  Paso 
early  in  September.  AVe  remained  there  nearly  a  month.  At 
that  time  EI  Paso  was  a  town  on  the  jVIexican  side  of  the  Rio 
(ii'ande  river.  There  was  l)ut  oik^  building'  on  the  Texas  side, 
and  that  was  the  Maggoffin's  hacienda.  Vegetation  at  El  Paso 
grows  very  rank,  and  fruit  exceedingly  tine.  The  grape  attains 
a  large  size,  and  l)unches  weighing  four  pounds  were  common. 
I  brought  with  me  cacti,  in  form  like  an  acorn,  and  so  large  that 
the  hoo])s  had  to  be  removed  from  a  clothing  tierce  (a  small 
hogshead)  to  put  a  single  one  inside  for  transportation. 

I  pass  over  all  description  of  the  country  and  incidents  of  the 
journey  home,  because  I  leave  you  the  original  diary,  and  my 
report  was  published  by  the  United  States  government.*  The 
oxen  and  wagons  drawn  by  them  were  all  turned  over  to  the 
post  quartermaster,  and  I  returned  with  the  mule  teams  only. 

Our  return  to  San  Antonio  was  over  the  (xuadalupe  moun- 
tains, down  Delaware  Creek  to  the  Horse-head  crossing  of  the 
Pecos  river,  thence  down  that  stream  to  where  we  crossed  it  on 
our  way  out.  There  is  now  a  railroad  from  San  Antonio  to  El 
Paso,  following  generally  our  route,  which  runs  on  to  the  City 
of  Mexico. t  Remaining  in  San  Antonio  long  enough  to  make 
out  my  accounts,  I  proceeded  to  NeW'  Orleans.  I  there  found 
Gen.  Twiggs  in  command,  and  called  from  courtesy  to  see  him 
at  his  headquarters.  His  aid,  Capt.  W.  T.  H.  Brooks,  who,  as  I 
have  related,  remained  in  the  stage  when  it  sank  in  the  mud,  in- 
formed me  that  the  general  commanding  said  I  must  shave  off 
my  beard,  as  a  general  order  to  the  effect  had  been  issued  by 
the  adjutant  general.  I  did  not  ol)ey,  as  I  was  under  orders 
from  the  quartermaster  general  to  return  to  Washington,  and 
did  not  consider  myself  in  his  command  at  all.  The  next  day  I 
was  at  the  general's  othce  unshaved.  He  made  no  remarks  to 
me  about  it  then,  but  some  time  that  day  Brooks  came  to  the 
hotel  and  ordered  me  to  have  my  beard  cut  off'.  I  did  not  go 
to  the  barl)er.  The  next  day  I  left  New"  Orleans  resolved  to 
beard  the  adjutant  general  in  his  den  in  Washington.     On  ar- 

*  Senate  Docninent. 

+  Also  to  Sun  Francisco.  Cal.,  as  was  then  predicted. 


102  T\ro  Wans. 

rival  lliere  I  found  tlu*  sliaviiiir  oidcr  not  cntorfcd.  and  thus  T 
saved  my  l)eaid. 

As  1  never  met  (len.  Twiofofs  airain  while  1  remained  in  the 
United  States  army.  I  will  take  my  leave  of  him.  He  was  not 
a  man  well  beloved  t)y  otlieei-s  or  soldiers:  he  jiossessed  no  ma":- 
netic  power:  he  was  not  grenial  in  temi)(>ror  dis})osition.  and  yet 
he  enjoyed  a  joke,  and  at  times  made  a  pun.  He  entered  the 
army  in  l,sl2.  When  that  war  terminated  he  w^as  a  eaptain. 
On  the  reorganization  of  the  army  he  was  retained  in  serviee 
and  made  a  major.  Bein<r  asked  in  what  l)attle  he  o^ained  his 
promotion,  he  replied  "in  the  nfaJr  xiX  (rhott.:''  meaninof  the 
treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain.  There  was  in  the  second 
regiment  of  dragoons  an  officer  named  A.  D.  Tree,  who  pos- 
sessed a  frailty  from  which  the  (Jeneral  was  not  exempt.  On 
account  of  this,  complaint  was  made  to  the  General  about  Tree. 
The  General  sent  for  Tree  and  asked  him  about  the  matter. 
His  reply  was:  ''You  cannot  blame  me;  just  as  the  Twigg  is 
bent,  the  Tree  is  inclined."  The  connnon  influence  of  example 
was  tacitly  acknowledged,  his  wit  appreciated,  and  he  withdrew^ 
under  words  of  advice  from  lips  that  smiled,  ^^'hen  Tw'igg's 
native  State  seceded  from  the  Union,  he  resigned  from  the  army 
and  entered  the  service  of  the  C\)nfedei-ate  States.  His  ad- 
vanced age  kept  him  from  active  operations  in  the  lield.  He 
had  left  in  New  Orleans  the  sword  presented  to  him  by  the 
State,  together  with  his  silver  plate,  and  it  was  all  seized  by 
Gen.  Benjandn  F.  Butler,  United  States  army,  when  in  com- 
mand in  that  city. 

While  I  was  absent  in  Texas,  on  the  Sth  of  February.  1849,  the 
Governor  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  in  pursuance  of  a  resolu- 
tion passed  February  10,  1847  by  the  Legislature  of  that  State, 
directing  him  to  procure  swords  to  be  presented  to  Capt.  W. 
K.  Montgomery,  Lieut.  N.  B.  llossell.  Fowler  Hamilton,  and 
Samuel  (t.  French,  of  the  United  States  army,  for  brave  and 
gallant  conduct  displayed  by  them  in  the  l)attles  of  Palo  Alto. 
Resaca  dc  la  Palma.  and  Monterey,  made  the  presentation. 
Richard  P.  riioiiipson.  of  Salem,  N.  J.,  acting  in  my  behalf, 
received  the  sword  for  me,  and  1  am  sure  I  will  be  jyai'doncd  for 
relating  some  of  the  proceedings. 

Gov.  Haines,  in  his  address,  was  pleased  to  say  in  reference 
to  me  at   Palo  Alto: 


Address  of  Gov.  Haines.  103 

While  the  battle  was  fiercely  riif)[iiif<,  a  Ijody  of  Mexican  lancers 
made  a  movement  to  the  right,  apparently  with  a  design  upon  the  trains. 
The  Fifth  Regiment  of  Infantry,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  were  ordered 
to  advance  and  check  them.  To  form  in  scpiare  to  receive  the  impetuous 
charge  of  the  iiorsemen  and  to  repel  them,  was  the  well-perfoniHHl  fl'ity 
of  the  Fifth  Infantry;  to  scatter  them  in  all  dire(;tions  was  the  (piick  work 
of  the  battery  under  First  Lieut.  Hidgely,  assisted  l)y  Sec^ond  I/icut. 
French. 

At  Palo  Alto,  and  licsaca: 

The  bearing  of  Lieuts.  French  and  Hamilton  in  both  these  sangui- 
nary engagements  was  marked  for  its  gallantry  and  courage,  and  merits 
our  highest  praise.  Of  the  former  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  he  served  a 
battery  in  conjunction  with  Lieut.  Kidgely.  and  in  that  duty  contributed 
largely  to  the  success  of  our  arms. 

At  Monterey: 

Lieut.  French  performed  deeds  of  daring  worthy  of  commendation. 
He  was  exposed  during  the  attack  to  imminent  perils.  Among  others,  the 
battery  under  his  commanil  atlvanced  through  the  blood-stained  streets 
of  the  well-fortified  town  in  the  face  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  amidst 
showers  of  balls  from  the  musketry  upon  house  tops.  Of  the  five  who 
served  his  gun,  four  were  shot  down  by  his  side.  These  are  the  battles, 
and  this  but  a  small  part  of  the  bi-ave  and  gallant  conduct  referred  to  by 
the  Legislature  in  their  resolution,  and  for  which,  in  the  name  of  the  people 
of  the  State,  they  desire  to  thank  and  to  honor  you.  That  tliey  have  not 
misjudged  is  manifested  by  your  subsequent  conduct. 

In  the  bloody  and  desperate  conflict  of  Buena  Vista,  Lieut.  French 
bore  himself  with  great  intrepidity,  and  was  severely  wounded.  For 
his  gallantry  he  has  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain,  and  we  have 
to  regret  that  his  services  in  a  distant  part  of  tlie  country  deprives  us  of 
the  pleasure  of  his  company  liere  to-day.  and  requires  him  to  be  repre- 
sented by  his  friend. 

Richard  P.  Thompson,  Esq.,  on  my  behalf  spoke  as  follows: 

Sii\-  In  behalf  of  (Japt.  Frencli,  to  whose  patriotic  services  you  liave  al- 
luded in  terms  so  eloquent  and  just,  I  accept  witli  profound  gratitude 
this  beautiful  sword — the  proudest  testimontal  a  brave  man  could  desire 
from  his  native  State. 

It  is  a  soldier's  duty  to  obey  with  cheerfulness  and  alacrity  the  call  of 
his  country — his  post  of  honor  is  on  the  battle  held,  amidst  the  "pride  and 
pomp,  and  circumstances  of  war," — liis  loftiest  ambition  to  bear  that  flag 
to  victory  that  never  knew  defeat,  and  to  win  for  himself  the  approval  of 
his  countrymen.  When  on  the  bloody  flelds  of  Buena  Vista,  Palo  Alto, 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  Monterey,  Lieut.  French  periled  his  life  for  his 
country,  one  l)right  and  sunny  hope  animated  his  young  anil  gallant 
spirit,  and  this  day,  sir,  flnds  that  glorious  hojjc  fulfilled.  Here,  in  sight 
of  the  battle  ground  of  Trenton,  the  descendants  of  heroes  ai'e  proving  to 
the  world  how  Jerseymen  ai)i)re(nate  and  reward  the  heroism  of  her  sons. 


104  Tno  Wahs. 

'I"o  dipt.  Fivueli.  now  absenl  on  miliUiry  duly,  the  PA^eiUs  of  this  day, 
sir.  shall  be  faithfully  transmitted,  and  I  can  well  imagine  how  his  manly 
heart  will  overflow  with  gratitude.  The  perils  and  privations  he  endured, 
the  pain  and  anguish  of  his  wound,  will  be  forgotten  in  the  joj'  of  this 
event^iu  the  knowledge  that  the  Legislature  of  his  beloved  State,  with  a 
magnanimity  alike  honorable  to  themselves  as  to  him.  have  placed  in  his 
hands  this  mute  but  eloquent  certificate  of  brave  deeds  in  his  country's 
service. 

In  accepting  for  him  this  evidence  of  the  regard  in  which  New  Jersey 
holds  his  bravery,  in  the  presence  of  her  assembled  representatives,  and 
of  this  bright  and  beautiful  array  of  her  mothers,  wives,  and  daughters,  I 
pledge  myself  to  you,  sir,  her  chief  Executive  Magistrate,  that  my  brave 
young  friend  will  treasure  it  as  the  pi'oudest  gift  of  his  life — that  its  keen 
and  polished  blade  shall  suffer  no  stain  from  his  dishonor — that  in  peace 
he  will  guard  it  with  a  soldier's  fidelity,  in  war  defend  with  it  the  honor 
of  his  country — unsheath  it  never  in  an  unholy  cause — aud  part  with  it 
onlj*  when  he  shall  be  laid  at  rest  "  beneath  a  soldier's  sepulcher." 

The  inscription  on  the  scabbard  reads: 

I'resented  by  the  State  of  New'  Jersey  to  Lieut.  Samuel  G. 
French,  of  the  third  Regiment,  United  States  Artillery,  for  brave 
and  gallant  conduct  displaj'ed  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Reseca 
de  la  Palma,  and  Montere3\  Subsequently  distinguished  at  Bue- 
na  Vista,  and  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain. 

AEQUM  EST  MILITEM 
INTREPIDUM 
HONORE 
AFFICERE. 

And  so  my  orood  friend  Mr.  Thoin])son  relieved  nie  from  the 
embarrassment  of  returninof  thanks,  publicly,  for  the  sword  de- 
livered by  the  Governor. 

While  on  this  sul^ject  T  will  here  remark  that  this  sword  and 
the  former  one  were  taken  from  my  simimer  home  in  Woodbury, 
N.  J.,  in  the  absence  of  the  family,  and  with  all  personal  prop- 
erty and  realty  sold  by  the  United  States  marshal  at  public  out- 
cry under  the  confiscation  act  of  1862.*  Were  the  proceeds  cov- 
ered into  the  treasury? 

I  arrived  in  Washinofton  durinjr  the  winter  of  184-9-50,  and 
made  a  report  of  the  expedition  that  was  published  by  the  gov- 
ernment as  1  have  stated.  The  Quartermaster  General,  or  the 
War  Department,  kept  me  all  the  year  18r>(»  in  Washington,  or 
within  call,  for  any  special  duty  re(|uired. 


*Until  charged,  tried,  and  runviilcd  ut  tn-a.son  is  confiscation  legal" 


Death  of  President  Taylor.  105 

Soon  after  my  nrrivul  in  \\'nsliiiiirt()n  I  was  honored  with  an 
invitiition  to  dine  with  the  President.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  tak- 
ing in  to  dinner  Miss  Taylor,  a  young  lady  from  Louisiana. 
The  quests  were  too  many  for  any  o-eneral  conversation,  and 
nothing  of  moment  oeeurred. 

I  was  in  Philadeli)hia  when  the  news  of  the  death  of  the  Pres- 
ident was  received,  July  U,  1850.  Having  been  with  him  in  all 
his  battles  in  Mexico,  I  was  pained  to  hear  of  his  death,  and  that 
I  had  lost  a  kind  friend.  He  had  lived  a  soldier's  life  until 
elected  President,  and  had  never  heard  the  voice  of  detraction, 
or  his  name  mentioned  except  for  praise,  until  he  was  forced 
into  the  political  arena. 

A  lady  friend  of  mine  told  me  that  she  had  a  room  at  the  ho- 
tel adjoining  the  (TcneraPs  reception  room,  and  thus  involunta- 
rily heard  much  wrangling  about  the  formation  of  his  cabinet. 
Delegations  of  politicians  from  diti'erent  States  would  go  so  far 
as  to  demand  that  certain  men  should  be  members  of  his  cabinet 
as  the  price  of  loyalty  to  the  party  and  support  of  his  adminis- 
ti-ation.  The  enemy  on  the  battlelield  never  perplexed  him  as 
did  his  political  frumds  and  the  pressure  for  appointment  to 
ottice.  He  whose  order  and  every  word  was  ol)eyed  now  found 
himself  confronted  by  the  bitterest  opposition,  which  perplexed 
him  in  the  extreme,  and,  no  doubt,  it  shortened  his  days.  Brave, 
honest,  pure,  sincere,  as  a  soldier  he  never  deviated  from  the 
path  of  duty;  and  if  we  consider  that  the  world  has  limited  the 
fame  of  a  soldier  to  one  single  measure,  deeds  performed^  by 
this  test  his  fame  is  imperishable.  His  every  success  was 
achieved  by  his  daring,  steadfast  determination  to  do  his  duty, 
and  tight  the  enemy  wherever  he  found  him,  regardless  of  all 
odds.     In  this  respect  he  might  be  paralleled  with  Nelson. 

Mr.  Fillmore  now  became  President.  Soon  after  this  the 
Gardiner  claim  was  being  investigated,  and  I  believe  there  were 
six  commissioners  to  be  sent  to  Mexico  to  examine  the  mine. 
The  President  was  to  name  two  of  these  commissioners;  the  Sen- 
ate, two;  etc.  I  was  informed  by  the  Adjutant  General  that  the 
President  instructed  him  not  to  send  me  on  any  duty  out  of  the 
city,  as  he  purposed  to  name  me  as  one  of  his  commissioners. 
However,  about  a  month  after  this,  Senator  Soule,  of  Louisiana, 
came  to  the  department  to  see  me,  and  1  })elieve  my  knowledge 
of  the  Spanish  language  did  not  come  up  to  his  expectations; 


106  T\ro  Wars. 

and.  if  I  roiiiemht'r  ariirlil.  I-.ii'ut.  DoiihUvlay  was  named  at  his 
•siifjorestion. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  (apt.  Hiiiirirohl.  of  tiic  Tnited 
States  navy,  asked  me  ui'trontly  tt)  jro  with  him  as  the  artist  on 
an  expedition  to  make  a  coast  survey  of  Kamchatka,  and  thence 
on  south.  He  consulted  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  obtained  per- 
mission for  me  to  ofo  if  he  made  the  ap])lication.  He  s}>oke  of 
the  climate  in  summer,  and  said  in  the  fall  we  would  sail  for  the 
Sandwich  Islands  and  pass  the  winter  there.  The  expedition 
was  a  temptinof  one,  l)ut  other  considerations  induced  me  to  de- 
cline ^oing.  Capt.  Kin^jfjold  was  a  brother  of  Maj.  Ringgold, 
who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto. 

I  think  it  was  during  this  autunui  that  I  was  sent  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky..  to  purchase  horses  for  the  cavalry. 

About  the  middle  of  December  Col.  Joseph  Taylor,  Maj. 
(iaines,  his  two  daughters,  and  I  took  })assage  on  a  steamer  for 
Cincinnati.  There  was  much  floating  ice  in  the  river,  and  snow 
began  to  fall,  and  it  turned  very  cold.  The  captain  ran  into  the 
mouth  of  the  Kentucky  river  to  avoid  the  heavy  drift  ice.  In 
the  morning  we  found  the  steamer  fast  in  frozen  ice,  and  wag- 
ons and  sleighs  came  alongside.  Gen.  AV.  O.  Butler  came  on 
board  to  see  Col.  Taylor,  and,  as  there  was  no  prospect  of  the 
steamer  leaving  for  weeks,  arrangements  were  made  for  Gen.  But- 
ler to  send  us  on  to  Florence  in  his  common  two-horse  farm  wagcm. 
The  next  morning  the  trunks  were  put  in  for  seats  and  we  start- 
ed on  our  journey,  The  country  was  covered  deep  with  snow, 
and  the  thermometer  was  fourteen  degrees  below  zero.  I  walked 
behind  the  wagon  nearly  all  the  way  to  keep  warm.  I'he  driv- 
er's hands  were  nearly  frozen,  and  in  crossing  an  awful  ravine 
the  horses  were  not  checked  and  the  wheels  on  one  side  would 
have  missed  the  t)ridge  and  all  in  the  wagon  been  killed  had  not 
my  tiinik  fallen  out  in  front  and  stopped  the  wagon.  Fortu- 
nately no  damage  was  done,  The  driver  was  to  blame  for  not 
telling  us  his  hands  were  half  frozen. 

It  was  dark  when  we  reached  Fiorencc,  and  for  once  lire  i-ould 
not  warm  me  for  hours.  Next  day  Col.  Taylor  bargained  for  a 
jumper  (sled)  to  take  him  and  me  to  Cincinnati.  We  crossed 
the  river  on  the  ice,  and  were  driven  up  to  the  door  of  the  hotel 
iji  the  juniper.  Next  day  Hon.  Salmon  P.  Chase  joined  Col. 
Taylor,  and  we  went  on  to  Washington  together. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

Janiuiry.  1851.  Oidcrcd  to  El  Paso — Capt.  Sitgreaves — Sail  for  Havana 
— Barnum  and  Jennie  Lind— Sail  for  New  Orleans  Hy  Steamer  to 
Galveston — On  the  (inlf  for  Indianola — San  Antonio  Ke])ort  of  Ex- 
pedition— Unpreeedented  March  without  Water — Indians — VVith  Gen. 
Jesup— Hartford  (Convention  —  Battles  ou  the  Canadian  Frontier — 
Gov.  W.  P.  Duval  (Ralph  Ringwood) — United  States  Senators— Clay's 
Magnetism — His  Duel  with  John  Randolph — Lieut.  R.  F.  Stockton,  Unit- 
e(i  States  Navy,  Duel  with  English  Officers  at  Gibraltar — John  Howard 
Payne — (Commodore  Van  Rensselaer  Morgan — My  Marriage — Assigned 
to  Fort  Smith,  Ark. — Trips  to  Washita,  Fort  (iibson.  and  Towson — 
Choetaws  and  Cherokees — John  Ross — Journey  from  Fort  Smith  to 
Natchez,  Miss. — A  Misanthrope — Gen.  John  A.  Quitman — Deatli  of  Mrs. 
Rolierts — Tender  Mj'  Resignation — Go  to  My  Plantation^(io  to  San  An- 
tonio— Death  of  Mrs.  French — Sail  for  Europe — John  Brown's  Raid. 

"TN  the  early  part  of  January,  1851,  Gen.  Jesup  told  me  that 
-■-  he  would  have  to  send  me  to  El  Paso  a^ain.  I  suggested 
that  some  other  officer  be  ordered  on  that  duty,  as  I  had  made 
the  trip  once.  He  said  that  there  had  been  no  rain  in  Western 
Texas  for  over  a  year;  that  the  report  was  the  troops  were  out 
of  provisions,  and  as  I  had  been  over  the  road  and  knew  the 
country,  1  nuistgo  again;  that  he  would  not  under  such  circum- 
stances intrust  the  expedition  to  any  one  else.  This  was  com- 
plimentary, to  be  sure,  and  I  pointed  out  the  difficulties  that 
would  be  encountered  on  such  a  long  journey  over  a  now  barren 
country,  destitute  of  water  and  grass;  but  told  him  I  would  do 
the  best  I  could  to  make  the  expedition  a  success. 

Capt.  Lorenzo  Sitgreaves,  topographical  engineer,  United 
States  army,  was  in  the  city  under  orders  to  make '  a  survey 
of  the  Gila  river,  and,  as  he  had  to  go  to  El  Paso,  would  ac- 
company the  expedition.  With  him  was  Dr.  S.  W.  Woodhouse, 
of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  In  due  time  we  went  to  New  York,  and 
sailed  for  Havana,  C'uba. 

In  Havana  at  the  hotel  were  P.  T.  Barnum  with  Miss  Jennie 
Lind,  James  G.  Bennett  and  wife.  We  remained  in  the  city 
about  a  week,  and  then  took  steamer  for  New  Orleans.  Gapt. 
Hartstine,  of  the  United  States  navy,  commanded  the  steamer. 
He  gave  Miss  Jennie  his  stateroom  on  deck.  I  was  sitting  with 
Miss  Jennie  in  her  room  when  we  entered  the  Mississippi  river. 


108  Two  Wars. 

Soon  a  sweet  little  ^irl  raiiie  in,  and,  droppinjj  on  her  knees  be- 
foi-e  the  sono^stress,  said:  "Miss  .Jennie,  you  ])roinised  that  you 
would  sin^  for  me  when  we  irot  in  smooth  wati-r.  Please  do, 
for  the  winds  and  waves  are  still."  And  she  sung  *'I  Dreamt  I 
Dwelt  in  Marble  Halls"  and  ''Home,  Sweet  Home."  O  how 
melodious  her  voiee  soundccl  to  us  alone  there  far  away,  where 
the  waters  of  half  a  continent  min<rled  with  the  ocean,  and 
awakened  new  emotions  that  moistened  the  eye  with  a  tear!  I 
heard  her  sing"  on  the  stage,  but  I  remember  ))etter  her  songs  to 
the  little  girl.  She  asked  me  about  the  length  of  the  Mississippi 
ri\ei-.  and  her  astonishment  was  great  when  I  informed  her  that 
she  could  go  all  the  w^ay  from  where  we  were,  if  the  river  were 
straigiitened  out,  to  her  home  in  Stockholm. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  lauding  in  New  Orleans  there  were 
perhaps  a  thousand  persons  present.  The  police  appeared  help- 
less. To  land  the  ladies  looked  like  an  impossibility.  How 
could  they  get  through  that  crowd  to  the  carriages^  Miss  Jen- 
nie would  not  attempt  it.  After  a  long  time  Barnum's  tact  ac- 
complished it.  The  crowd  had  seen  both  Miss  Jennie  and  Bar- 
num's daughter  on  the  deck  when  the  steamer  arrived.  They 
were  now  below  deck  in  despair.  Barnum  arrayed  his  daugh- 
ter like  Miss  Jennie,  covering  her  face  with  a  thick  veil,  gave 
her  his  arm,  and  met  the  crowd,  worked  his  way  through  to  a 
carriage  that  was  covered  with  people,  and  tinally  got  his  daugh- 
ter inside,  and  jumped  in.  The  carriage  moved  slowly  on,  the 
mob  after  it  to  see  her  get  out.  Then  Miss  Jennie  was  landed,  and 
put  in  another  carriage  that  followed.  But  the  crowd  discovered 
the  deception,  met  Miss  Jennie,  and  escorted  her  to  her  hotel. 
All  this  was  merely  a  desire  to  see  a  distinguished  vocalist.  An 
hour  or  two  after,  we  also  got  on  shore.  I  have  failed  to  tell 
you  that  Dr.  Fisher,  of  Phila(leli)hia,  was  one  of  our  party. 
He  was  em])loyed  by  me  as  physician  to  render  medical  services 
to  the  civil  employees  on  the  expedition.  From  New  Orleans  we 
took  steamer  to  Galveston,  where  we  were  detained  some  days. 

How  often  do  extremes  meetl  In  New  Orleans  we  had  just 
listened  to  the  sweet  voice  of  Jennie  Lind;  here  we  were  enter- 
tiiincd  l)y  :in  old  negro  slave  with  nuisic  drawn  out  of  a  cheese 
box  mad(;  into  a  l)anjo.  He  knew  but  one  song,  and  as  he  played 
it  over  and  over  we  j)aid  him  to  (juit  instead  of  encouiaging  him 
to  continue.      It  made  me  feel   very  sad  to  see  tlu;  poor  fellow 


El  Paso  Rkport.  1^'^ 

tryinof  to  please  the  ju'oijIo  at  the  liotel  with  his  rude  banjo  and 
SOUJ2:.  What  a  fall  from  a  Cremona  or  Stradivarius  to  a  cheese 
box! 

From  Oalveston  we  sailed  to  Indianola,  and  thence  to  San  An- 
tonio by  stage,  w  here  we  arrived  February  24. 

As  it  will  be  too  much  trouble  for  me  to  a})breviate  my  re- 
port of  this  expedition.  1  will,  mainly  for  preservation,  g'ive  it 
in  full: 

KKPOKT. 
Washington  City,  November  2.  ISoi. 

General :  I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  to  you  the  accompanying  re])ort 
in  relation  to  the  late  expedition  to  El  Paso,  made  in  compliance  with  the 
foUowinji  order: 

QUAKTEKMASTER  GENEKAL'S  OFFICE,     ) 

Washington  City.  January  14.  1S51.  \ 

Sir:  A  large  supply  of  stores  for  El  Paso  is  on  the  way  from  Baltimore 
to  Indianola,  Tex.,  as  you  are  aware,  to  meet  an  apprehended  deficiency 
of  subsistence  for  the  troops  at  that  post  and  its  dependencies  in  New 
Mexico.  This  supply  is  to  be  taken  to  its  destination  in  a  public  train. 
You  are  selected  to  take  charge  of  and  conduct  it.  You  will  proceed  to 
San  Antonio,  and  report  to  Maj.  Babbitt  for  that  service.  On  your  way 
thither  you  will  stop  at  New  Orleans,  and  ascertain  from  Col.  Hunt  the 
state  of  the  wagons  which  he  has  shipped  to  Indianola  by  orders  from 
this  office:  and  if  they  are  not  in  every  respect  in  a  condition  for  the 
service  in  which  they" are  to  be  emploj^ed.  you  will  call  for  whatsoever 
you  may  think  necessary  to  the  efficiency  of  the  service.  Should  you  ob- 
tain information  on  theVoute  of  the  loss  of  any  of  the  wagons  shipped  re- 
cently from  Philadelphia,  you  will  take  measures  to  replace  as  many  of 
them  as  you  may  think  neces.sary. 

The  expenses  of  the  department  are  enormous,  and  they  must,  if  prac- 
ticable, be  reduced.  You  must  therefore  carefully  avoid  any  expen.sc  not 
absolutely  required:  but  at  the  same  time,  economy  is  not  to  be  carried  so 
far  as  to  impair  efficiency. 

Maj.  Babbitt  has  beenwritten  to  and  informed  that  you  are  to  organize 
a  train  under  his  instructions,  or  to  aid  him  in  organizing  it,  and  that  you 
are  to  have  charge  of  it.  I..et  that  service  be  performed  in  your  usual  man- 
ner, and  with  your  accustomed  energy,  and  I  am  sure  all  will  go  i-ight. 

All  the  operatives  employed  must  go  armed,  and  if  a  small  escort  be 
necessary  in  addition,  the  commanding  general  I  have  no  doubt  will  di- 
rect it.  Let  it  however  be  as  small  as  possible,  so  as  not  to  use  so  large  a 
))ortion  of  the  supplies  as  are  usually  required  for  escorts. 

(Jollect  all  the  information  you  can  in  regai'd  to  the  country,  its  re- 
sources, the  condition  of  the  Indians  who  roam  over  it.  what  are  their 
numbers,  and  how  they  can  best  be  controlled;  also  whether  settlements 
might  not  be  formed  on  the  route  sufficientlj"  strong  to  protect  themselves 
from  the  Indians,  and  furnish  supplies  for  emigrants  and  troops. 

With  entire  reliance  on  your  energy,  talents,  and  zeal,  I  am  respectful- 
ly your  obedient  servant,  Th.  S.  Jescjp,  Quartermaster  Genera/. 

Capt.  S.  G.  Freneh,  A.«sistant  liuartermaster.  Washington  City. 

In  ))ui-suaiiccof  thcal)o\  f  ordersi  proceeded  to  San  Antonio,  and  re])ort- 
ed  fordutvon  th(»  •J4tli  of  February,  and  commenced  making  preparations 


110  Tiro  Wars. 

f  .>r  the  or<janization  of  the  train.  Many  of  the  wagons  required  for  the  serv- 
ice, and  all  the  stores,  were  still  on  theeoast.  and  all  the  availal)le  means  that 
Maj.  Babbitt  had  were  immediately  enii)loyed  in  bringing  them  to  the  depot 
at  San  Antonio.  An  estimate  of  the  numl)er  of  animals  that  would  be  re- 
quired was  made,  and,  as  there  were  not  enough  in  his  possession,  some  three 
hunilred  were  received  by  purcliase.  and  formed  into  teams  for  the  road, 
and  a  small  train  thus  organized  was  dispatched  to  Indianola  to  hasten 
up  with  the  subsistence.  But  little  hired  transportation  could  be  pro- 
cured, for  the  severity  of  the  Avintcr  had  destroved  all  vegetation,  and 
the  cattle  could  barely  subsist.  Some  of  the  stores  thus  sent  by  the  citi- 
zens from  the  coast  were  nearly  or  quite  a  month  on  the  road  up  to  the 
depot  at  San  Antonio.  By  the  last  of  April  most  of  the  stores  had  arrived, 
the  requisite  number  of  emploj-ees  had  been  engaged,  and  the  loading  of 
the  wagons  was  commenced.  As  they  received  the  loads,  they  were  sent 
in  small  detachments  to  Leona,  the  point  I  had  designated  as  the  gen- 
eral rendezvous.  By  the  7th  of  May  the  last  train  left  the  depot,  and  I 
started  with  it  for  Leona.  The  supplies  for  Kl  Paso  were  kept  separate 
from  those  drawn  for  the  escort  and  eni])loyees,  and,  in  order  to  avoid 
the  expense  of  transporting  salt  provisions  for  the  command.  I  received 
from  the  commissary  of  subsistence  eighty  days'  fresh  meat,  the  l)eeves 
being  driven  along  by  men  in  the  employ  of  the  contractors,  and  furnished 
when  required.  As  the  Indians  on  the  borders  had  manifested  considera- 
ble hostility  during  the  spring,  I  deemed  it  necessary  to  ask  of  Maj.  Gen. 
Harney,  commanding  the  department,  the  prote -tion  of  an  escort.  For 
this  service  a  detachment  of  eighty  men  fr(mi  the  first  regiment  of  infant- 
ry was  ordered;  but,  as  the  transportation  of  their  subsistence  would  in- 
cur considerable  expense,  I  thought  it  consistent  with  proper  economy 
and  perfect  safety  to  suggest  its  reduction  to  lifty  men.  The  number  was 
accordingly  diminished,  and  on  my  reaching  Fort  Inge  I  found  the  escort 
there  under  the  command  of  Capt.  B.  H.  Arthur  awaiting  mj^  arrival,  and 
I  will  here  express  my  obligations  to  liim  for  the  cheerful  aid  he  always 
afforded  me. 

I  encamped  at  the  rendezvous  on  the  11th.  On  the  12th  the  last  of  the 
wagons  arrived,  and  the  day  following  was  passed  in  making  final  prep- 
arations for  our  departure.  The  entire  exjjcdition.  com])nsing  one  hun- 
dred and  Hft3'  wagons  (including  three  belonging  to  Maj.  Backus.*  ("apt. 
Sitgreaves.  and  Lieut.  Williamson,  en  route  to  New  Mexico)  and  over  one 
thousand  animals,  moved  on  the  14th.  and  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the 
Nueces.  These  numbers  were  further  increased  by  those  of  citizens  avail- 
ing themselves  of  our  protection  to  pass  through  the  Indian  country. 

The  march  was  now  continued  without  any  accidents  or  unnecessary 
delay,  until  the  night  of  the  23d.  when  we  were  visited  by  a  thunderstorm, 
accompanied  by  such  violent  gusts  of  wind  as  to  prostrate  all  our  tents 
and  expose  us  to  the  rain  till  morning.     We  were  encamped  in  the  valley 

<'Maj.  Eieftua  Baclvus  wont  to  Fort  Defianco,  among  ihe  Navajoes,  and  di-stroyed  the 
influence  of  tlieir  god  — tlie  dancing  man— l)j'  a  )>iec<'  of  Jugglery  in  making  a  stuffed  figure 
to  represent  iheir  god.  and  by  means  of  wire.-*  m:iking  it  dun'-e.  Pejtce  followed  this  ex- 
hibition by  a  treaty. 


F.I.  I'aso  IxEPonr.  Ill 

of  the  San  Pedro  river,  and.  knowing  tliat  it  was  subject  to  sudden  over- 
Hows  from  heavy  falls  of  rain.  I  examined  the  ford  the  next  day  ai)out 
noon,  and  eould  perceive  only  a  slight  rise  in  the  water,  and  therefore  com- 
menced crossing  the  baggage  wagons,  giving  ilirections  for  the  main  train 
to  follow  soon  after;  but  no  sooner  w  ere  the  former  completely  over  than 
in  the  space  of  a  few  minutes  the  waters  rose  several  feet,  thereby  com- 
pletely cutting  off  all  communication  with  the  main  train  for  nearly  two 
days.  The  waters  having  suijsided  enough  so  as  not  to  enter  the  wagon 
l>odies,  the  stream  was  passed,  and  we  continued  the  march  again  without 
interruption  to  the  IVcos  river.  We  found  the  water  of  this  stream  low^ 
but  an  examination  of  the  ford  led  me  to  believe  that  it  was  still  too  deep 
to  pass  over  in  safety,  and  I  was  obliged  to  cause  three  cylindrical  iron 
rods,  or  wires,  that  had  been  left  across  the  river  by  the  contractors  for  the 
year  previous,  to  be  raised  and  secured  to  the  shores  by  means  of  strong 
cables,  which  being  planked  over  formed  a  suspension  bridge  forty  feet  in 
length,  over  which  the  wagons  with  the  stores  w^ere  run  by  hand.  About 
seventy  w^agons  had  been  thus  passed  across,  w^hen  the  end  of  one  of  the 
rods  that  was  bent  at  a  right  angle  broke,  and  the  bridge  became  impas- 
sable. A  second  examination  of  the  river  led  to  the  discovery  of  a  ledge 
of  rocks  affording  a  good  bottom,  where  the  rest  of  the  wagons  were 
driven  across  with  but  little  difficulty.  The  west  bank  of  the  river  having 
been  gained,  we  resumed  our  journey.  At  the  Comanche  Springs  we  were 
overtaken  by  Col.  J.  D.  Graham,  U.  S.  army,  topographical  engineer,  on 
his  w^ay  to  the  Mexican  Boundary  Commission,  who  continued  with  us  to 
El  Paso. 

The  disapjiointment  arising  from  not  having  w^ater  where  on  former  o(^- 
casions  it  hail  been  characterized  as  permanent  or  living,  together  with 
the  parched-np  condition  of  the  country,  caused  me  to  move  with  more 
circumspection.  The  Lempia  was  found  dry  its  entire  length,  excepting 
one  place,  that  was  a  mile  distant  from  the  road  and  almost  inaccessible  to 
animals,  and  another  at  its  source  at  the  Painted  Camp.  I  therefoi-e  re- 
mained at  the  last-mentioned  place,  and  sent  expresses  ahead  to  look  for 
water,  which  resulted  in  the  discoverj^  of  a  pool  in  a  ravine  twenty  miles 
in  advance,  to  which  point  we  moved.  The  condensation  of  vapor  on  the 
mountain  sides  caused  some  rain  to  fall  about  ten  miles  farther  on  the 
road,  where  the  men  in  advance,  by  digging  trenches  on  the  plain,  drained 
it  from  the  surface  where  it  had  not  l)een  absorbed,  insutliciont  abundance 
for  all  the  animals.  Preparations  had  been  made  in  anticipation  of  a  long 
journey  without  water,  by  tilling  all  the  water  barrels  and  kegs  at  tlie 
Lempia.  There  was  now  but  little  hope  of  finding  water  short  of  P^agle 
Springs,  sixty-five  miles  distant,  and  the  weather  being  extremely  warm, 
and  the  roads  excessively  dusty,  I  started  at  two  o'clock  a.m.:  but.  much 
to  the  joy  of  every  one,  a  small  hole  containing  water  enough  for  a  part 
of  the  advance  train  was  found  about  sunrise,  and  two  others  containing 
sufficient  to  allow  each  animal  a  few  quarts  were  discovered  where  we 
halted  at  noon:  again  about  sunset  some  was  found  in  a  small  water  gul- 
ley  in  Providence  Creek,  and  each  animal  was  given  a  few  gallons  as  they 
passed  by  and  moved  in  advance  in  (|uest  of  an   encaini)iiig   place    where 


112  Tiro  Wars. 

there  was  some  grazing  for  tlie  animals.  But  the  dryness  of  the  herbage 
seemed  only  to  increase  the  thirst  of  the  ])oor  mules,  an<l  all  night  they 
kept  up  a  continued  braying.  At  one  A.M.  I  again  started  for  the  springs, 
still  twenty-nine  miles  distant,  halting  at  eleven  o'clock  to  give  the  ani- 
mals all  the  water  in  the  kegs  and  to  permit  them  to  graze.  Our  baggage 
wagons  and  the  advance  of  the  escort  continued  on  to  the  springs,  which, 
to  the  astonishment  of  all,  were  so  nearh'  dry  that  the  few  animals  with 
us  scarcely  got  enough  to  slake  their  thirst.  I  immediately  set  some  men 
to  the  task  of  digging  out  the  springs,  and  disjiatched  a  party  several  miles 
up  the  mountains  to  where  on  a  former  occasion  a  large  stream  was 
found  running,  but  they  returned  and  reported  it  perfectly  dry.  As  to 
procuring  water  from  the  si)rings  where  the  men  were  digging,  it  was  an 
impossibility.  While  thus  perplexed,  a  thunder  shower  that  hovered 
aiound  a  distant  peak  of  the  mountains,  and  then  rolled  up  the  valley,  for 
a  time  inspired  hope,  but  like  the  cloud  it  soon  passed  away.  About  four 
P.M.  the  trains  arrived,  and  I  directed  them  to  continue  the  march  all 
night  to  the  Rio  Grande,  thirty-two  miles  distant.  All  day  difBculties  had 
been  accumulating.  Tn  the  morning  an  express  had  overtaken  us.  giving 
the  information  that  some  of  the  mules  belonging  to  the  Boundary  Com- 
mission had  strayed  for  water  during  the  night,  and  they  were  unable  to 
move  from  I'rovidence  ("reek.  They  could  not  be  left  there  without  water: 
and.  lest  the  missing  animals  should  not  be  recovered,  I  caused  four  teams 
to  remain  at  Eagle  Springs:  so  that,  should  their  animals  be  irrecoverably 
lost,  I  might  give  assistance  to  get  their  wagons  up  to  the  springs  the  next 
day,  and  resolved  to  remain  in  camp  till  two  o'clock  the  next  morning,  be- 
lieving that  ere  then  the.y  would  reach  our  camp,  which  fortunately  was 
the  ease.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  left  the  springs,  and  arrived  at 
the  mouth  of  the  cafion*  through  which  tlie  vallej-  of  the  Rio  Grande  is 
gainetl.  about  nine  a.m..  and  found  in  it  near  twenty  wagons  blocking  up 
the  passage,  the  animals  exhausted  for  want  of  water  and  from  faligue. 
They  were  immediately  loosed  and  driven  to  the  river,  eiijht  miles  distant, 
where  the  main  body  was  encamped,  and  in  the  evening  these  wagons 
wei-e  brought  into  camp  from  out  the  canon  where  they  had  been  left. 
Thus,  from  not  finding  water  at  Eagle  Spring.s,  and  being  oliliged  to  con- 
tinue on  to  the  Rio  (irande,  the  trains  were  forced  to  make  a  march  of 
ninety-six  miles  in  Jifly-two  consecutive  hours,  the  last  sixty  miles  ha\- 
ing  been  made  in  thirty  hours.  These  marches  were  as  disagreeable  as 
can  well  be  imagined,  and  continued  to  be  so  to  the  place  of  destination, 
ovying  to  the  intolerable  heat,  the  thermometer  during  the  day  in  the  shade 
standing  at  110  degrees,  and  to  the  immense  volumes  of  dust  that  i-ested 
on  either  side  the  road  like  a  cloud,  obscuring  everything  from  the  view, 
except  when  wafted  away  by  the  wind. 

We  reached  El  Paso  on  the  24th  of  June  forty-nine  days  after  leaving 
San  Antonio,  during  which  time  thirty-nine  only  were  pas.sed  in  traveling. 
The  stores  were  all  delivered  in  good  condition:  and  an  estimate  being 
made  of  what  would  be  required  on  the  return  trip,  I  found  more  salt  pro- 

'■'  Proridiinced  canyon. 


El  Paso  B'epout.  113 

visions  on  hantl  than  were  necessary,  and  therefore  caused  a  part  of  them 
to  be  left  at  San  Elizario,  whereby  the  supplies  were  increased  by  about 
eighteen  hundred  rations.  As  soon  as  the  stores  were  delivered  and  I 
could  complete  my  duties,  the  journey  homeward  was  commenced.  We 
left  El  Paso  on  the  7th  of  July,  and  reached  San  Antonio  on  tlie  Dthof  Au- 
ijust.  The  same  diiVuulty  in  rej^ard  to  water  was  not  experienced  whwo 
retnrnin<r:  for  at  Eagle  Si)rings  Mr.  Sniitli.  a  gentleman  who  had  chargfe 
of  a  small  train  of  wagons,  arriving  there  about  a  week  after  us.  finding 
no  water,  remained  there  in  camp  while  his  animals  were  being  driven  to 
the  Rio  (irande.  thirty-two  miles  distant,  and  dug  out  the  springs  to  a  ca- 
])acity  four  times  greater  than  I  had  left  them.  I  also  divided  the  train  in 
.sections,  marching  on  consecutive  days,  so  as  to  let  the  springs  fill  during^ 
the  intervals  between  the  departure  and  the  arrival.  The  marches  were 
always  made  with  a  view  to  favor  the  animals,  and  the  time  of  starting, 
etc..  Avas  determined  by  the  circumstances  of  distance,  the  weather,  graz- 
ing, and  Avtiter.  On  the  journey  out.  I  generally  had  the  animals  cor- 
ralled at  night  for  safetj'  when  there  was  no  moon;  but  after  the  stores 
were  delivered,  and  the  main  oliject  of  the  expedition  had  been  accom- 
I)lished.  more  risk  could  be  afforded;  and  accordingly,  from  the  time  we 
left  the  Rio  Grande  until  the  arrival  at  San  Antonio,  the  animals  were 
herded  all  the  time  excepting  when  in  harness.  By  thus  giving  them  ev- 
ery opportunitj"  to  graze,  and  ahvays  traveling  with  a  view  to  favoring 
them.  I  am  ])leased  to  state  that  they  returned  to  the  depot  in  about  as 
good  condition  as  when  they  .started,  after  mai'ching  a  continuous  journey 
of  more  than  tAvo  thousand  miles,  if  the  trips  to  the  coast  from  the  depot 
l)e  included.  The  loss  of  animals  from  deaths,  straying,  thefts,  and  other- 
wise, from  the  rendezvous  to  El  Paso  and  back,  was  two  and  a  fraction  to 
each  hundred.  No  Indians  were  ever  met  on  the  route,  though  the  guard 
at  night  on  two  occasions  fired  on  what  were  supposed  to  be  Indians. 
Often  thej^  hovered  near  our  camp,  making  signal  tires  on  the  mountains. 
In  regard  to  the  country  through  which  the  route  lies,  you  were  fur- 
nished witli  a  description  in  a  former  communication.  Of  course  all  the 
l)eculiar  characteristics  that  it  has  obtained  from  the  formations  remain 
the  .same:  l)ut  every  feature  of  productiveness  and  beauty,  derivetl  from 
the  seasons  in  their  annual  course,  is  sensibly  changed,  and  to  the  ej'e  it 
])resents  but  little  that  is  attractive,  owing  to  the  drought.  From  the  Nue- 
ces to  the  mountains,  which  divide  the  waters  that  flow  into  the  Pacific 
from  those  that  flow  into  the  Atlantic,  the  whole  country  appears  altered. 
But  little  rain  has  fallen  for  near  two  years,  and  hills  that  before  were 
clothed  in  verdure  now  are  bare.  Valleys  that  seemed  to  vie  in  fertility 
with  the  most  favored  appear  sterile:  and  plains  where  two  years  ago  the 
tall  grass  waved  like  fields  of  wheat  now  are  rockj^  and  barren.  Parasit- 
ical plants  hang  leafless  to  the  trees,  and  the  mistletoe  has  ceased  to  7)ut 
forth  its  buils.  Where  the  prairie  had  been  swept  over  by  the  fires  of  the 
l)revious  summer  the  surface  of  the  earth  was  still  black  and  covered  with 
ashes,  and  nothing  green  showed  that  the  spring  season  had  passed.  The 
vegetation  of  the  previous  years  had  become  so  dried  and  withered  by  the 
scorching  rays  of  the  sun  that  it  appeared  cineritious,  crumbling  into  ashes 


114  7'if'o  Wars. 

or  dust  whou  pressed  in  llic  liaixl  or  Iroddcii  on  li_v  animals.  Tlu'  little 
lakes  thai  onee  bonlered  the  streams  were  dried  u)).  and  the  streams  them- 
selves had  often  eeased  to  llow.  Even  the  prairie  dogs  had  forsaken  the 
central  ])art  of  their  town,  from  starvation,  and  inhabited  the  sul)nrbs  bor- 
dering on  the  vegetation  that  widely  eneireles  tliem,  remote  from  their 
former  homes.  It  seemed  as  if  Providenee  had  withdrawn  his  protecting 
care  and  left  the  country  to  itself.  I  never  I)efore  had  such  a  nega- 
tive proof  of  the  fertilizing  properties  of  rain  and  dews.  The  general  as- 
pect of  that  vast  extent  of  country  \\  est  of  the  Nueces  is  thus  clianged  from 
Avhat  it  was  two  years  since,  when  it  was  an  untrodden  wilderness  un- 
known to  the  white  man.  A  general  drought  has  pi'evailed.  and  it  was 
only  occasionally  that  green  gra.ss  was  found  where  a  shower  had  passed 
in  the  spring.  Notwithstanding  the  tide  of  immigration  .settling  into  the 
country,  the  acknowledged  enterprise  of  our  ju'ople,  the  rapid  subjugation 
of  the  wild  lands  to  useful  purjjoses  \)y  the  settlers,  and  the  utmost  protec- 
tion that  may  be  given  to  the  advance  of  all  our  settlements— yet  such  are 
the  few  attractions  that  most  of  that  region  of  countrj%  on  the  route  west 
of  the  intersection  of  the  table-lands  with  the  Rio  Grande,  Northern  Mex- 
it'o.  or  perchance  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  it  can 
attract  the  attention  of  agriculturists,  or  even  beeome  a  pastoral  counti'y  to 
any  great  extent.  The  establishment  of  a  mail  route  from  San  Antonio  to 
El  Paso  may  cause  a  small  post  to  be  established  at  Live  Oak  Creek  or 
Howard's  Springs,  but,  generally  speaking,  the  San  Felipe  limits  the  fertile 
portions  of  Texas  (south  of  the  great  plain)  in  a  westei'ly  direction. 

I  have  endeavored  to  collect  some  information  in  regard  to  the  Indians, 
as  required  by  3'our  orders,  and  from  having  been  on  duty  in  Texas  prin- 
cipally, since  1848,  during  which  time  I  have  traveled  over  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  country  they  frequent  (in  tiie  south  and  west  as  far  as  New 
Mexico),  some  conclusions  I  have  arrivcMl  at  may  dilTcr  from  the  generally 
I'eceived  opinions  in  regard  to  them. 

Their  numbers  appear  to  have  been  consideraijly  overestimated,  if  tlie 
report  of  men  who  have  been  among  them  can  be  relied  on,  and  the  infor- 
mation gained  by  Lieut.  Col.  Hardee  in  his  late  expedition  to  their  coun- 
try be  correct.  It  is  believed  that  the  entire  number,  including  all  ages 
and  the  ditfercnt  sexes,  of  all  tlic  ii-ilics  that  frecjuent  the  border  settle- 
ments of  Texas,  in  the  Eighth  .Military  Department,  does  not  exceed  four 
thousand. 

The  respective  numljcrs  of  the  dilTerent  bands  may  be  set  down  (by 
their  own  computation  princij)ally)  al^out  as  follows:  Delawares,  63;  Sliaw- 
nees,  70:  Tonkaways,  800:  Quapas,  200:  Caddoes,  160;  Anadoces.  200; 
lones,  118:  Keechies,  48:  Tawacanoes,  140;  Wacoes,  114;  Lepans,  350; 
Lower  C'omanches,  700;  and  the  Northern  Comanches  at  1,500.  Tiiese 
tribes  roam  ovei*  the  country  watered  l)y  the  Ked,  Trinity,  Brazos,  C(j1o- 
rado,  Nueces,  and  .San  Pednj  rivers  and  their  tributaries  near  their  sources. 
Tlie  Northern  C'omanches  have  the  most  extensive  range  for  the  pursuit 
of  the  bufl'alo  to  the  north  of  tlie  Canadian.  They  traverse  the  entire 
country  to  the  .south,  and  by  their  ancient  war])at]is  croiss  the  Pecos,  con- 
tinue to  tiie  Kio  (irande,  enter  Mi'xico.  and  carry  their  depredations  far 


El  I'aso  IxKronT.  115 

into  tlie  inlcrior  of  llial  distractt'd  c-omitrv.  J'lic  soutlierii  biiiul  of  Co- 
manclies.  and  all  the  other  tribes  enniiierated,  are  found  frequently  asso- 
eiated  totjether,  and  on  the  northern  ])(>i'tions  of  the  line  near  their  home 
visit  those  posts  in  seeming  friendship. 

That  barren,  dreary,  and  desolate  region  imuu.'iliately  west  of  the  Pei-os 
has  not  suflleient  claims  to  be  in  possession  of  any  Indians.  The  North- 
ern Comanches  pass  over  a  poi-tion  of  it  as  they  wander  alternatelj'^  from 
the  north  to  the  south,  and  the  ditTerent  bands  into  which  the  Apaches  are 
divided  approach  its  borders  from  the  north  and  west. 

The  Apaches  are  divided  into  numerous  bands,  and,  united  with  other 
tribes  in  New  Mexico,  have  been  variously  estimated  at  from  fifteen  to 
thirty  thousand,  the  foimer  being  ))erhai)s  nearer  the  truth. 

The  condition  of  all  these  Indians,  except  some  few  of  the  Delawares,  is 
truly  lamentable.  Uenietl  the  j^ossession  of  lands  and  a  home,  despising 
industry,  and  regarding  labor  as  degrading,  no  provision  is  made  for  sub- 
sistence by  the  cultivation  of  the  soil;  but.  depending  entirelj^  upon  the 
flesh  of  the  horse,  the  mule,  the  uncertainty  of  the  chase,  and  the  few  wild 
products  of  the  country,  th(;y  wander  about  exposed  to  all  the  vicissitudes 
and  every  ill  of  life  that  can  arise  from  disease,  extreme  exposure  to  cold, 
nakedness,  and  hunger  bordering  on  starvation,  leading  an  existence  more 
filthy  than  swine,  and  as  precarious  and  uncertain  as  the  wolf;  and  this 
life  is  rendered,  if  it  be  possible,  even  yet  more  intolerable  by  the  almost 
entire  absence  of  laws  respecting  property  and  the  rights  of  the  individ- 
ual. Their  views  of  property  tend  toward  socialism,  without  that  re- 
straint by  which  the  strong  are  prevented  from  plundering  the  weak,  and 
but  few  injuries  have  legal  redress.  However  strongly  tlieir  condition 
would  seem  to  appeal  to  philanthropy  for  relief,  much  sj'mpathy  is  lost 
in  the  remembrance  that  their  code  of  morals  inculcates  many  of  our  vices 
as  their  cai'dinal  virtues,  and  regards  our  virtues  as  so  many  vices  or  traits 
of  weakness,  while  their  atrocious  barbarities  shock  every  sensibility  of 
nature  and  humanity.  The  experience  of  the  Jesuit  fathers,  other  Chris- 
tian missionaries,  and  learned  professors  would  almost  incline  lis  to  be- 
lieve that  the  Indiau  is  endowed  with  certain  instincts,  as  they  might  be 
called,  that  are  inherent  in  his  nature,  and  not  alwaj^s  directing  him  to 
good,  which  neither  separation  from  his  people,  education  from  infancy, 
the  attainments  of  academies,  attractions  of  wealth,  the  refinements  of  so- 
ciety, nor  the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  Christianity  can  desti'o^';  and,  after 
all,  he  stands  in  nature  an  Indian  still.  Be  this  as  it  may,  of  one  thing  we 
are  certain,  they  are  thrown  on  our  l)orders  and  violate  our  laws,  and  it 
becomes  a  question  how  best  to  control  them,  and  what  policy  to  pursue 
in  our  relations  with  them.  Thej'  are  now  being  encroached  nponbj'  set- 
tlements on  the  frontier  that  will  soon  encompass  them  on  many  sides. 
We  are  circumscribing  their  bounds,  limiting  their  hunting  expeditions, 
and  destroying  their  game.  And  there  is  no  checking  these  encroach- 
ments, for  the  State  of  Texas  claims  possession  of  all  the  domain  within 
her  boundaries,  and  no  act  of  the  agents  of  the  Federal  government  can 
at  present  cede  them  a  portion  of  her  territory,  or  military  force  restrain 
the  lawless  traders  estal)lished  in  the  Indian  country.     Treaties  may  be 


116  Two  IVjns. 

elTeeled  wiili  ilicm.  Imi  ihcy  camiot  sti|)ul;it('  to  restrain  citizens  from  set- 
tling ou  tlu'ir  luiiitiiiu;  gruuiuis.  nor  fj;rant  tliciu  many  immunities.  It  is, 
under  tlie  present  condition  of  affairs,  vain  to  supjjosc  tliat  the  mostsivill- 
fid  eomlMiiations  for  military  operations  can  check  a  famished,  wild,  and 
degraded  peoj)le  from  committing  de]»redations  on  the  lonely  roads  and 
extended  prairies,  for  the  purpose  of  clothing  their  naked  women  and 
children  and  to  satisfy  the  calls  of  hunger;  and  more  especiallj'  so  when 
these  very  acts  are  not  regarded  as  wrong,  and  are  the  only  steps  by  w  hich 
the  untutored  brave  gains  tlistinction  or  renown  among  his  people  and  re- 
ceives the  awards  due  to  valor.  Theft  with  tliem  is  no  crime,  but  only  a 
legitimate  profession.  In  all  civilized  communities  ambition  is  satisfied 
in  pursuing  innumerable  channels  of  a  civil  nature.  The  Indian  has  but 
two.  war  anil  the  chase,  and  they  are  now  no  longer  i)leasiires,  l)ut  made 
a  burden  by  the  stern  necessities  of  jjroviding  subsistence. 

How  to  control  these  nomadic  tril)es  various  plans  have  been  snggest(>d, 
but  all  calling  for  legislative,  action,  and  I  feel  a  rcliictani-e  in  alluding  to 
them.  But  I  know  of  none  nmre  liiiniane  in  tiie  end  than  lo  leach  thonthe 
power  of  our  government,  then  grant  them  a  territory,  dismount  them  as 
far  as  necessary,  feed  and  clothe  them  to  a  sufficient  extent  to  make  them 
dependent  on  our  agents,  elevate  the  character  of  their  war  and  council 
chiefs  in  the  estimation  of  their  respective  tribes  by  treating  them  Avith 
some  distinction  and  consideration,  whereby  their  inlluence  over  the  bands 
Avill  l)ecome  greater,  and  they  will  become  instrumental  in  carrying  out 
our  wishes.  Encourage  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  establish  a  few 
plain,  salutary  laws  for  their  government  and  for  regulating  the  inter- 
course of  the  whites  with  them,  and  have  them  enforced  by  the  aid  of  the 
militaiy;  and  then,  perhaps  ere  long,  tranciuillity  niay  be  known  on  the 
frontier  where  for  so  many  years  partial  war  has  l)een  waged.  A  similar 
policy  might  l)e  urged  from  other  considerations,  esjjecially  to  prevent  the 
immense  amount  of  claims  c(mstantly  growing  out  of  what  aiv  aUeged  to 
be  Indian  depredations,  and  the  expense  of  maintaining  so  hirge  a  force 
remote  from  j)oints  where  the  sup])]ies  are  drawn. 

Were  the  State  of  Texas  to  grant  the  Indians  within  her  borders  a  defi- 
nite territory,  ceding  the  jurisdiction  thereof  to  the  Ufnited  States,  so  that 
the  proper  laws  regulating  the  intercourse  of  the  whites  with  them  couUl 
be  establi.shed  and  enforced,  and  were  they  but  ])artially  clothed  and  fed, 
theState  would  have  peace  on  I  lie  tioniier.  innnlgi-alion  t<>  liei' shores  would 
increase,  the  immense  resom-ces  of  the  country  would  i)e  developed,  and 
prospei-ity.  sjjreading  lia))])iness  among  her  ])eo])le,  would  spring  up  over 
her  entire  dominions. 

The  service  upon  which  1  haxf  l)een  engaged  has  imhiced  nie  to  urge 
upon  your  consideration  the  ])ropriety  of  recommending  to  the  honorable 
Secretary  of  War  the  necessity  for,  and  the  advantages  tliat  wouUl  be  de- 
rived from,  a  legislative  enactment  whereby  a  limited  number  of  em- 
ployees could  be  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  department  for  a  term  of 
years,  subject  to  snch  rules  and  r(;gulations  as  in  such  cases  mayl)e  estab- 
lished l)y  ])roper  authority. 

When  ])assing  thi'ough  (ialveston  1  iiail  tiie  ])leasure  to  examine  the  es- 


Kl  Paso  Report.  117 

tal)lishineiit  of  Mr.  (i.  Bonloii  for  tlie  manufacture  of  meat  biscuit.  Two 
cans,  in  a  cruslied  state,  containing  five  pounds  each,  were  purchased,  and 
on  our  journey  to  El  Paso  and  back  it  was  almost  constantly  used;  and,  in 
connection  with  vegetables,  was  found  an  excellent  article.  We  had  no 
siiiii  olijcct  in  \  lew  as  to  test  the  usefulness  to  any  extent,  but  from  its 
convenience  and  pulatable  qualities  it  naturally  came  into  daih'  use.  I 
gave  awaj'  one  can  of  it,  which  served  a  party  of  four  persons,  who  came 
from  New  Mexico  to  San  Antonio  without  pack  animals,  as  a  reliable  de- 
pendence for  food  on  a  journey  of  about  six  hundred  miles  to  the  nearest 
settlements.  They  made  it  a  substitute  for  animal  food  exce])ting  when 
they  chanced  to  meet  game,  and  spoke  of  it  in  commendable  terms.  In 
forming  a  part  of  the  ration  it  would  commend  itself,  economically,  in  a 
degree  somewhat  proportionate  to  the  diminution  it  would  make  in  the 
weight  of  the  ration;  but  the  militar}^  advantages  it  would  afford,  where 
land  transportation  is  difHcult.  and  certain  results  are  to  l)e  obtained,  can- 
not be  so  well  calculattMl.  In  many  points  of  view  it  commends  itself  so 
favorablj^,  as  a  component  part  of  the  ration  for  particular  service,  that  it 
is  worthy  of  more  than  a  single  trial. 

During  the  months  of  March  and  April  the  teams  were  employed  in 
l)ringing  up  the  supplies  for  the  troops  in  the  Eighth  Military  Dejiartment, 
and  were  sent  on  any  other  duty  that  the  service  required,  and  were  not 
confined  exclusively  to  transporting  the  stores  destined  for  the  troops  in 
New  Mexico.  The  provisions  for  the  escort  were  conveyed  from  San  An- 
tonio; and  from  the  forage  that  I  received  were  fed  the  animals  lielonging 
to  the  officers'  teams,  and  some  was  issued  to  the  train  of  the  Boundary 
Commission  in  the  service  of  Col.  Graham.  These  and  other  circumstances 
connected  with  the  general  duties  of  the  service  have  rendered  it  impossi- 
ble for  me  to  present  you  with  more  than  an  approximate  estimate 
of  the  cost  per  pound  for  transportation  to  El  Paso.  I  have  embraced 
in  the  calculation  the  cost  of  freight  of  the  provisions  for  the  escort;  the 
transportation  of  the  rations  for  the  employees  of  the  department,  and  the 
value  thereof;  the  compensation  for  service  of  all  persons  connected  with 
the  train;  the  loss  of  animals;  incidental  expenses,  etc.;  and  find  the  cost 
per  pound,  from  the  Gulf  to  El  Paso,  to  be  about  nineteen  cents.  This 
will  not  exceed  the  expenses  per  pound  under  the  contract  for  the  jire- 
vious  year,  but  it  exceeds  that  now  paid  citizens  who  own  small  trains  and 
are  carrying,  to  a  limited  anaount,  by  four  cents  per  pound.  To  the  gov- 
ernment the  forage  for  the  animals  has  been  a  heavy  item  of  expenditure, 
and  although  I  allowed  only  a  third  of  the  rations  of  corn,  without  long 
forage,  yet  it  has,  owing  to  the  exorbitant  price  it  commands,  amounted 
to  over  two-fifths  of  the  entire  expense  of  the  expedition. 

When  the  grazing  is  good  small  trains  of  twenty  or  thirty  wagons  may 
avoid  the  use  of  grain  almost  entirely  by  traveling  more  slowly  and  stop- 
ping oftener  to  graze:  and  if  the  department  will  thus  risk  suj)plies  with- 
out escorts  of  any  kind,  it  may,  to  some  extent,  diminish  ex])ense,  but  it 
will  be  attended  with  more  uncertainty. 

It  may  be  gratifying  to  you  to  learn  that  during  the  time  we  were  ab- 
sent on  the  journey,  with  the  exceptions  I  have  mentioned,  nothing  of  note 


118  Tiro  U\4i.-s. 

ot'i'UiTod.  The  ti'ains  were  always  ready  to  move  at  the  hours  (lesi<riiatecl. 
and  would  eome  into  camp  without  any  of  those  vexatious  delays  caused 
l)y  animals  "  fjivin<i  out "'  from  fat if;ue,  or  tiiebreakin<rof  wa<r<>ns.  or  other 
accidents  generally  attendant  on  siu-h  expeditions. 

Respectfully  your  ol)edient  servant.  S.  (j.  Fken<:h, 

Captain  and  AssiatioU  QuafteniiaMcr. 

Maj.  (icii.  Tlionia.s  A.  Jesn|),  (Jiiartermaster  General,  U.  S.  A.,  Wasliiiiglon,  I).  C. 

The  oHiccrs  who  acH'oinjJaiiicd  iiio  were  C'apt.  H.  11.  .Viihiir.  in 
coiiiiiiaiKl  of  the  escoit.  and  ("ol.  ,1.  D.  (ii-ahain.  Maj.  Backus, 
Capt.  Sitofreaves,  Lieut.  ^\'illiallLson,  who  availed  tlieinsehcs  of 
the  proteetion  of  the  expedition  to  go  to  El  Paso:  also  my  hioth- 
ei\  flohn  C.  French.  Bishop  Tjama.  and  ]\Ir.  Wriofht,  eollecliiiir 
plants  for  Prof.  Gra3^  His  herbarium  and  large  plants  tilled 
three  wagons.  I  brought  several  loads  of  cacti,  embracing  about 
sixty  varieties,  l^nfortunatcly  they  were  all  frozen  in  transit 
from  New  York  to  Philadelphia,  an  almost  irreparal)le  loss. 

During  the  winter  of  1851-52  I  occupied  a  desk  in  Gen.  Jes- 
up's  pri\ate  office.  The  morning  hotu's.  from  nine  to  twelve, 
were  generally  given  to  visitors  calling  on  business  or  socially. 
Often  were  the  battles  of  Niagara,  Lundy's  Lane,  and  Chippe- 
wa fought  over  again,  until  the  hour  to  dine  was  at  hand,  and, 
when  \  isitors  ceased  to  call,  the  General  would  look  over  the 
morning's  mail,  then  hand  the  letters  to  me  to  answer,  telling 
me  what  reply  to  make  to  every  letter.  I  found  it  very  ditHcult 
at  tirst  to  answer  so  many  letters  handed  to  me  one  after  an- 
other, the  answers  to  each  verl)ally  given  me.  Besides  I  seldom 
reached  the  hotel  imtil  dinner  was  over. 

The  General  used  to  tell  me  all  about  the  war  of  i.sii\  How 
he  was  ordered  to  Hartford  on  some  ostensible  service,  but  really 
to  watch  the  proceedings  of  the  Secession  Convention  held  at 
Hartford.  Daily  he  reported  to  President  Madison,  as  far  as 
possible,  what  the  proceedings  were.  They  had  the  desire  to 
■secedf,  but  were  ap])rehensive  of  the  conseciuences. 

As  1  have  before  me  the  proceedings  of  the  Hartford  Conven- 
tion, and  an  attested  copy  of  the  secret  journal  of  that  body 
))ul)lished  in  Boston  by  O.  Everett.  i;^>Cornhill.  ls"i;).  I  will  give 
a  few  extracts  from  the  join-nal. 

Mk.mbkks  of  thi-;  Convention. 

From  Massachusetts:  George  ("ahot.  William  Prescott.  llariison  (iray 
Otis.   Timothy   Highnv.   Nalhaniel   Danr.   (icorgc   HJiss.   .losiuia  Thomas, 


John  C.  Fkknch. 


Seckssion  Convention.  121 

Hodijaii  Hayliss.  Daniel  Waldo.  Joseph  Lyman.  Sanniel  \V.  Wilde,  aixl 
Stephen  Loniffellow. 

From  Conneelieut:  Channeey  (ioodrieh,  James  Hillhou.se.  John  Tread- 
well.  Zepheniali  Swift.  Nathaniel  Smith.  Calvin  (ioddai'il.  and  Ho<rer  M. 
vSherman. 

From  New  Hampshire:   Benjamin  West  and  Miles  Olcotl. 

From  Kliode  Island:  Daniel  Lj^man.  Benjamin  Hkzard.  and  Kdward 
Manton. 

George  Cabot  was  ehosen  President  of  the  Convention. 

Convention  assembled  Deeember  15,  1814,  and  prepared  rules  and  or- 
ders. 1.  Meetings  to  be  opened  each  morning  with  pi'ayer.  .  .  .  2. 
The  most  inriohtble  sccrertj  shall  be  olvserved  l)y  each  member  of  the  Con- 
vention, including  doorkeeper,  etc. 

December  16,  1814,  committee  met,  .  .  .  opened  with  prayer.  .  .  . 
Committee  repoi'ted  the  following  to  be  ))roper  subjects  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  Convention : 

The  poAvers  claimed  l)v  the  Flxecutive  of  tlie  United  States  to  determine 
conclusively  in  n'spect  to  calling  out  tlie  militia  of  the  States  into  the  serv- 
ice of  the  United  States,  and  dividing  the  United  States  into  military  dis- 
tricts with  an  officer  of  the  army  in  each  thereof,  with  discretionary  au- 
thority from  the  Executive  of  the  United  States  to  call  for  the  militia  to 
be  under  tlie  commaiul  of  such  officer.  .  .  .  The  refusal  of  the  Execu- 
tive of  the  United  States  to  supply  or  pay  the  militia  of  certain  States 
when  called  out  in  their  defense.  .     .     The  failure  of  the  Government 

of  the  United  States  to  provide  for  the  common  defense,  :  .  .  leaving 
the  separate  States  to  defend  themselves,  etc. 

December  IT.  1814.  met  and  o))ened  with  j)rayer.  .  .  .  and  ad- 
journed. 

Monday.  19th.  met  as  usual.     (Proceedings  of  no  importance.) 

Tuesday.  December  20,  and  21st.  22d.  and  23d  as  well,  opened  witli  us- 
ual prayers  and  adjournments. 

Saturday,  December  24,  1814,  opened  with  prajer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jenkins. 
.  .  .  The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  report  the  measures  as 
it  may  be  proper  for  this  Convention  to  adopt  respectfully  report: 

Article  1.  Complains  about  the  unconstitutional  attempts  of  the  Execu- 
tive Government  of  the  United  States  to  infringe  upon  the  rights  of  the 
individual  States  in  regard  to  the  militia.  .  .  .  Recommends  the  adop- 
tion of  decisive  measures  to  ])rotect  the  States  from  usurpations,  etc. 

Article  2.  Recommends  the  States  to  make  provision  for  mutual  de- 
fense by  retaining  a  ])ortion  of  the  taxes.     .     .     . 

Article  3.  RecommcMids  certain  amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  as  follows: 

(1)  That  the  power  to  declare  and  make  war  by  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  be  restricted. 

(2)  That  it  is  exj)edient  to  attempt  to  make  provision  for  restraining 
Congress  in  the  exercise  of  an  unlimited  power  to  make  new  States,  and 
to  atimit  them  into  the  Union. 

(3)  That  the  ])owers  of  Congress  be  restrained  in  laying  embargoes  and 
restrictions  on  commerce. 

(4)  That  a  President  .shall  not  be  elected  from  the  same  State  two  terms 
successively. 

(5)  Thai  the  same  ])ei'son  shall  not  be  elected  President  a  second  time. 


122  Tuo  Wars. 

(0)  Tliat  :in  aimMidiiKMit  l>e  jd-oposcd  rcspcctiiitr  .n/'^cc  n'])i-(>s('nt:ili<in  uml 
slave  taxation. 

On  motion  it  was  voted  tiiat  this  Convention  be  adjoiiiiicd  Id  Monday 
afternoon  at  three  oeloci<.  then  to  meet  at  tliis  place. 

Monday.  Dei-cndier ',*(>.  1S14.  the  Conxcntinn  iiicl  pursuant  i<i  .idjouru- 
ment.  etc 

On  tiic  •,M>tli.  ',*7tli.  and  '2Xlh  uothiii<i'  of  inipiu'tance  was  douf. 

On  the  2!>th.  after  praj'ers,  a  ijroposition  was  i-cfcrred  to  the  connnittee 
appointed  on  the  31st  inst. : 

That  the  capacity  of  naturalized  citizens  to  hold  ollii-cs  of  trust,  honor, 
or  profit  ought  to  be  restrained;  and  that  it  is  ex])e(lient  to  ])ro])ose  an 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  in  relation  to  llial  sub- 

l)iil  tliis  is  (Mioiiiz'li  to  show  the  dfit't  and  |)ali-i()lisiii  as  tlicy 
siiw  and/'//'  it. 

One  (lay,  l)ein.o:  lute  to  dinner  us  usual,  the  tuble  ut  NNilhird's 
was  nearly  deserted;  but  seeing  Gen.  Harney,  I  took  a  seat  be- 
side hint.  Soon  after,  (jov.  W.  P.  Dnvul,  of  Florida,  came,  and, 
seeing  Gen.  Harney,  he  came  over  ;ind  was  seated  between  us. 
I  knew  he  was  a  good  raconteur.  ;uid  hoped  to  have  him  relate 
some  Florida  stories.  After  he  and  the  (leneral  had  talked  over 
their  experiences  with  the  Seminoles  and  the  Florida  war,  I 
asked  him  to  relate  some  of  his  adventures  in  early  life.  He 
began  the  story  of  Ralph  Kingwood,  with  his  schooiljoy  days, 
the  imi)orted  "jack,"  putting  him  in  the  smokehouse,  the  fright 
of  the  old  negro  housekeeper,  Barl)ara,  when  she  opened  the 
door  and  the  jack  brayed,  his  leaving  home,  and  so  on  all  the 
way  through  as  related" by  Washington  Irving,  with  this  ditifer- 
ence,  that  he  eml^ellished  it  with  many  more  incidents.  He  gave 
us  an  am  using  account  of  his  tirst  visit  to  New  York  Gity .  When 
he  reached  Washington  Gity  President  Jackson  invited  him  to 
dine  w'ith  him  privately.  He  was  not  fumilitu-  with  regular 
coiu'ses  at  diimer,  and  came  near  getting  nothing  to  eat,  for  while 
he  would  ])e  telling  a  story  to  Jackson  the  servant  would  take 
his  plate  away,  provisions  and  all,  and  put  an  empty  one  there. 
This  occiu-red  so  often  that  when  he  was  "helped"  again,  while 
talking  to  the  President,  he  held  on  to  his  ])late  by  holding  his 
fork  in  it  perpendictdarly,  pressing  it  down  hard.  The  (tov- 
ernor  was  a  very  amusing  story-teller,  and  I  Ihink  he  said  the 
way  "The  Ex])eriences  of  Rali)h  Kingwood"'  cunie  to  i»e  ))iib- 
lished  was:  P)eingat  West  Point  Academy,  a  memberof  the  Board 
of  Visitors,  he  was  invited  by  Mr.  Kcmhh'.  who  ii\(M|  on  the 


.1//.'.  Cla  y.  123 

shore  of  tlio  Hudson  opposite  West  Point,  to  dine  with  him,  und 
tliere  he  met  Irvin^L*;  und  Spauldino;  and  rehited  to  them  his  ex- 
periences in  early  life. 

From  the  time  I  returned  fi'om  Mexico,  in  Ls47,  until  is.M  1 
Avas  retained  on  duty  in  ^Vashin*2^t()n  City,  to  he  sent  on  such  in- 
cidental service  as  occasion  required,  and  1  am  happy  to  tell  you 
that  durin<2:  all  these  years  I  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  all  the  otticers  in  the  War  Department. 

There  were  long  periods  of  leisure,  and  I  passed  nuuh  of  my 
time  at  the  Capitol  interested  in  the  Cono;ressi()nal  debates,  es- 
pecially in  the  Senate,  where,  through  a  friend  of  mine,  I  gen- 
erally enjoyed  the  privilege  of  the  seats  under  the  gallery  or  on 
the  floor.  I  have  listened  to  Everett,  the  scholar;  Sumner,  the 
rhetorician;  Choate,  the  lawyer;  Calhoun,  the  metaphysician; 
Clay,  the  orator;  Webster,  the  expounder,  and  all  the  other  Sen- 
ators in  their  l)est  efforts  day  ])y  day,  and  I  must  declare  Henry 
Clay  the  most  eloquent  and  persuasive  speaker  of  all.  The  glow- 
ing words  fell  from  his  lips  as  though  they  had  been  touched  by 
a  burning  coal  from  the  altar  of  Elijah  on  ]Mt.  Carmel.  The 
great  natural  gift  of  Savonarola  was  his.  1  could  illustrate  his 
wonderful  magnetic  power  over  men  by  many  occurrences. 

In  the  Metropolitan  Hotel  the  hall  leading  from  the  entrance 
of  the  office  was  long  and  wide.  Seats  were  arranged  to  the  wall 
on  either  side,  and  in  this  hall,  at  night,  prominent  persons  Avere 
AV'ont  to  assemble.  \\\  Englishman  of  high  official  position,  on 
a  visit  to  this  country,  had  arrived  in  Washington  and  was  a 
guest  at  the  hotel.  In  the  evening  a  number  of  Senators  and 
government  officials  called  to  pay  their  respects  to  him.  Now, 
without  regard  to  the  order  of  arrival,  I  will  merely  observe: 
When  Mr.  Cass  entered  the  hall  a  few  persons  spoke  to  him  on 
his  way  to  the  office.  His  card  was  sent  up  and  he  was  shown 
to  the  reception  room.  Mr.  Clayton  came  in  and  was  shown  u|). 
Mr.  Webster  arrived,  in  buff  vest  and  blue  coat,  and  a  cloud  on 
his  brow,  and  on  his  way  to  the  office  exchanged  a  few  words 
with  some  of  his  friends.  After  a  while  Mr.  Clay  came.  Instant- 
ly all  rose  from  their  seats.  Though  the  hall  was  filled,  the  crowed 
pressed  around  him.  He  had  a  pleasant  word  for  every  one,  and 
the  gracious  reception  he  gave  them  was  so  magnetic  that  with 
difficulty  he  reached  the  office  and  parted  from  his  friends,  leav- 
them  en  raj>j>ort  with  him  from  sympathetic  cheerfulness.    When 


124  Two  Wars. 

I  was  first  introduced  to  Mr,  Clay  he  said,  "Ah,  an  6l6ve  of 
the  ^lilitary  Academy.  1  suppose?"  and  then  spoke  in  com- 
menchition  of  the  schooh  I  felt  sure  the  shade  of  his  son  rose 
up  l)efore  him,  for  he  was  educated  there,  and  was  killed  on  the 
l)attletield  of  Buena  Vista.  I  once  related  to  Mr.  Clay  a  story  I 
had  heard  ahout  James  K.  Polk.  His  reply  was  emphatic:  ''It 
cannot  be  true.  No  man  Avith  such  a  heart  could  ever  have  ))een 
President  of  the  United  States."  Contrast  with  this  Mr.  Ben- 
ton's remark  about  Stephen  A.  Douo^las:  ''He  can  never  be 
elected  President  of  the  United  States.  His  coat  tail  hangs  too 
near  the  orround."  I  never  heard  Mr.  Benton  make  a  sY)eech  in 
favor  of  a  mcusui-e;  he  was  generally  in  opposition.  If  asked 
who  I  regarded  the  finest  speaker  in  the  Senate  at  that  time,  I 
would  reply:  "Henry  Clay."  I  think  his  reply  to  Mr.  Soule,  of 
Louisiana,  on  the  boundary  of  New  Mexico  the  best  speech  1 
have  ever  heard.  He  was  the  most  self-reliant  man  I  ever  knew. 
Gen.  Jesup.  who  knew  him  well,  told  me  that  Mr.  Clay's  self- 
reliance  ])revented  him  l)eing  elected  President.  He  would  frame 
a  l»ill  oil  an  imi)ortant  measure,  introduce  it,  and  whip  the  whole 
\\'hig  })arty  into  supporting  it.  Mr.  Webster  and  other  great 
men  in  the  party  disliked  coercion,  and  their  support  would  be 
lukewarm,  when  he  might  have  had  their  hearty  cooperation  if 
he  had,  before  presenting  a  bill,  called  them  to  his  room,  shown 
it  to  them  to  make  suggestions,  and  asked  their  support  in  ad- 
vance, and  made  them  feel  that  it  was  their  bill  as  well  as  his. 
But  no;  he  was  a  great  leader  of  men,  and  commanded  them  to 
follow.  That  is  well  in  militai-y  atlairs,  but  in  i)olitics  it  creates 
jealousy  wlicic  the  leader  is  not  established  by  law.  IntheSen- 
ate,  where  acts  are  recorded,  lie  did  conmiand:  in  politics  the 
vote  is  secret,  his  rivals  were  envious  and,  at  heart,  indifferent 
to  his  success,  and  he  fell  tVoiii  his  ow  n  greatness  in  the  strug- 
gle for  the  i)residency. 

I  recall  what  (ien.  flesup  told  iiic  of  Clay's  duel  with  John 
Ran(k)li)li.  of  Koanoke.  When  Randolph  called  Clay  "a  being 
so  brilliant  and  so  corrujit,  only  to  be  compai'ed,  indeed,  to  one 
thing  under  the  skies— a  heap  of  rotten  mackerel  by  mooidight, 
lliat  shines  and  stinks,"  ("lay  challenged  him.  (xen.  Jesup  and 
Dr.  Hunt  wei'c  Clay's  seconds,  and  Gen.  James  Hamilton  and 
Col.  Tatnell  were  Randolph's.  Gen.  Jesuj)  carried  the  cartel  to 
liandolpli.  who  referred  him  to   llMiuilton.     The  preliminaries 


A  Harmless  Duel.  125 

were  arranged  and  the  parties  nicl  on  the  Viro^inia  side  of  the 
Potomac  above  the  bri<lge  over  the  Little  Fulls  at  4  p.m.  April 
8,  182().  Randolph  drove  out  thei'e  in  his  moi'nino;  wrapper. 
Randolph  declared  that  he  would  fire  in  the  air,  ag'ainst  which 
Hamilton  remonstrated  in  vain.  Without  relatin<j  the  particu- 
lars of  Randolph's  wearino;  orloves,  and  how,  therefrom,  his  pis- 
tol was  prematurely  discharged,  I  will  only  observe  that  at  the 
word  Clay  fired,  the  l)all  passing  through  Randolph's  wrapper 
without  touching  his  person;  then  Randolph  lired  in  the  air. 
Seeing  this,  Clay  advanced,  seized  Randolph  in  his  arms,  and  ex- 
claimed, "'T  hope,  my  dear  sir,  you  are  not  hurt.  What  do  I  not 
owe  you?"  Randolph  exclaimed,  "Mr.  Clay,  you  owe  me  a 
new  wrapper,"  pointing  to  the  rent  made  in  it  by  the  pistol  ball. 

But  what  1  wish  more  particularly  to  relate  is  that  many  years 
after  this,  when  Randolph  was  })assing  through  Washington  on 
his  way  to  Philadelphia,  he  was  driven  to  the  capitol,  a  sick  man, 
and  carried  into  the  Senate  chamber  and  placed  on  a  sofa.  It  so 
chanced  that  Clay  was  then  speaking,  and  Randolph  exclaimed: 
"Raise  me  up!  be  quick,  that  I  may  hear  that  matchless  voice 
once  more."     What  testimony  to  Clay's  eloquence!* 

Randolph  was  Minister  to  the  court  of  vSt.  Peters! )urg.  He 
died  on  reaching  Philadelphia,  and  his  last  words  were:  "Re- 
morse! remorse!" 

*  When  I  was  stationed  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1850,  on  one  occasion  Thom- 
as F.  Marshall,  Dr.  Matthews  (who  was  with  us  in  Mexico),  and  I  woi'e  at 
the  Gait  House.  Marshall  and  the  Doctor  became  engaged  in  repartee. 
The  Doctor  was  a  master  of  wit.  Marshall  acknowledged  defeat,  and  in- 
vited us  to  dine  with  him  next  day  at  the  Louisville  Hotel,  and  we  ac- 
cepted his  invitation.  When  the  morrow  came  the  Doctor  was  a  little  re- 
luctant to  go,  fearing  another  encounter.  However,  at  the  hour  Marshall 
was  on  hand.  He  was  an  entertaining  host,  and  among  his  many  anec- 
dotes he  related  the  treatment  he  once  received  from  Henry  Cla3^ 

Marshall  was  opposed  to  Clay  in  some  local  political  issue,  and  the  day 
after  the  election  many  people  assembled  at  the  courthouse  in  Lexington  to 
get  the  news.  Clay  was  in  the  rotunda  surrounded  by  friends  when  Marshall 
entered  and  appi'oached  the  crowd.  Claysaluted  him  with:  "Good  morn- 
ing, Mr.  Marshall.  What  is  the"  news  from  Wootlford  County?"  Mar- 
shall answered,  ••  We  traitors  have  been  defeated;  "  and  instea<l  of  extend- 
ing his  hand  to  "Tom"  and  saying,  "Ocome  back  to  the  Whig  fold!"  he 
waved  his  long  arm  and  exclaimed,  "May  that  ever  be  the  fate  of  all 
traitors! "  Marshall  said  the  repulse  of  his  pi-offered  friendship  astonished 
him,  but  it  was  <Jlay's  imjK'rious  way. 


126  Tiro  Wjns. 

U'asliiiia-ton  was  the  lioiiic  of  many  cniiiu'iit  men.  icmaikahlo 
tor  llioir  inU'iri'ity  in  the  administration  of  their  (hities.  purity 
of  eharaeter,  ami  modest  manner  of  living.  In  the  army  there 
was  Gen.  Seott,  the  brave  and  siiceessf  ul  soldier.  lie  had  a  few 
eecentrieities  in  reirni'd  to  lana'uau'e.  lie  i-alled  a  lieutenant  a 
"*leftenant:"  a  elerk.  a  '"elark."  If  any  one  failed  amon<r  us 
youngsters  to  not  give  "guard"  the  letter  "u"  long,  he  would 
l)e  eorreeted:  and  as  president  of  military  hoards  he  would  as- 
sume to  he  recorder,  and  generally  wrote  the  proceedings  him- 
self. The  press  ridiculed  him  for  writing  '"sparcely  settled"" 
and  '•  conciuering  a  peace,"  and  the  Democratic  ])ai'ty  harped  on 
his  ""hasty  plate  of  soup"  when  he  was  uominated  for  the  pres- 
idency: to  such  mean  tricks  will  a  party  descend. 

There  was  (Jen.  Nathan  Towson.  who  so  gallantly  captured 
the  British  l)rig  Caledonia  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie,  in  Oc- 
tol)er,  1812,  ever  a  polite  gentleman:  and  (ren.  George  Gibson, 
J.  Ct.  Totten,  and  T.  S.  Jesup,  the  last  twice  breveted  for  gal- 
lant service  in  the  battles  of  Chip})ewa  and  Niagara.  And  I 
often  met  Col.  (Jeorge  Croghan,  noted  for  gallantry  in  defense 
of  Fort  Sandusky,  and  of  whom  President  flackson  said,  wdien 
charges  of  intoxication  were  presented  to  him  against  Croghan, 
"Tear  them  up;  Col.  Croghan  may  <f/7J?/t"  whenever  he  pleases;"" 
and  Col.  J.  P).  AA'albacli.  who  was,  if  my  memory  serves  me 
aright,  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  Tuilleries  Avlien  it  was  de- 
stroyed. 

There  were,  of  course,  many  naval  otticers  at  the  ca})ital.  and 
a  jovial,  good  set  of  men  they  were.  Connnodore  R.  F.  Stockton 
resigned  after  the  explosion  of  the  "  big*"  gun  (the  Peacemaker) 
on  the  propeller  Princeton,  and  soon  afterwai'ds  represented  the 
State  of  New  Jersey  in  the  Senate.  Lieut.  Stockton  was,  as  I 
was  told  the  story,  on  the  C  S.  shi])  Delaware  (in  the  harbor  of 
Gil)raltar),  commanded  hy  Connnodore  Pattison.  Dining  one 
day  at  a  hotel  on  the  neutral  ground,  among  others  present  were 
three  young  Knglish  ofiicers  of  the  garrison  and  a  young  man, 
(•a))tain  of  a  tine  American  ship.  The  three  ollicers  had  indulged 
fieely  of  wine,  and  made  some  oH'cnsi\e  I'cmarks  to  the  young 
captain,  who  resented  them,  and  1  think  thicw  his  plate  at  their 
lieads.  ^^'llen  challenged,  lliey  refused  to  tight  him.  on  the 
gi'ound  that  socially  he  was  not  their  e(|ual.  Stockton  handed 
them   his  card,  and  exclaimed.    "I   will   lake   that   gentleman's 


Capt.  Moh'OAX.  127 

place:  you  camiot  ict'iise  to  H^lit  lue."  He  fought  all  three  and 
wounded  them,  and  liien  rhallonired  all  the  officers  of  the  ofan-i- 
,son.  \\'licn  the  conunandant  of  the  fortress  heard  of  it,  he  called 
at  once  on  ("onunodore  Pattison  and  in  a  good-natured  way  sug- 
gested to  hiiu  to  get  his  madcap  officer  on  board  ship  as  soon  as 
possil)le  and  make  a  few  days'  cruise,  or  he  would  have  no  offi- 
cers of  the  garrison  left  to  command  the  guns.  Pattison  ac- 
know  k'dged  the  necessity,  weighed  anchor,  and  went  seaward.* 

\\  hen  .John  Howard  Payne  was  Consul  at  Tunis,  in  1S41,  he 
incurred  a  debt  for  the  repairs  of  a  building  for  the  consulate. 
The  bey  refused  to  pay  the  bill,  as  he  had  formerly  done  to  the 
foreign  Consuls.  This  claim  had  been  pending  since  Payne's 
death,  in  184:^:  so,  in  hoi)es  of  settling  the  matter,  Capt.  Van 
Rensselaer  Morgan  was  given  a  good  vessel  and  ordered  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  proceed  to  Tunis  and  adjust  the  claim 
if  i)ossible.  Selecting  his  officers,  he  sailed  for  the  ^lediterra- 
nean.  One  of  his  officers  selected  was  skilled  in  intei'national 
law.  and  from  the  state  pa})ers  made  out  a  strong  case  in  favor  of 
the  United  States.  Ca|)t.  Morgan  was  a  plain,  unpretending 
man.  possessed  of  nnich  connnon  sense.  On  arriving  at  Tunis,  he 
Avas  informed  that  the  bey  was  at  his  country  palace,  a  few  miles 
distant.  The  captain  ])rocured  a  carriage,  and  took  two  of  his 
officers  with  him  and  drove  out  to  see  his  mightiness,  the  bey — 
a  prince  in  rank. 

When  admitted  to  the  audience  chamber,  instead  of  making 
salaams  he  Avalked  directly  u))  to  the  bey  and  in  a  frank  and 
frien<lly  manner  took  his  hand  and,  shaking  it  heartily,  said: 
"How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Bey,  how  do  you  do^  Don't  get  up,  Mr. 
Pey,  don't  get  up;  I  will  take  a  seat  alongside  of  you.  I  hope 
you  are  well.  How  are  Mrs.  Bey  and  the  children^  I  h()])e 
they  are  (i7/  well.  I  have  ))een  a  long  time  coming,  and  1  am  glad 
to  see  you,  Mr.  Bey.  We  have  a  fine  ship;  you  must  come  and 
see  us,  ]Mr.  Bey,  do  come.-'  The  Captain,  after  a  short  inter- 
view about  curi'ent  events,  rose  to  leave,  and  with  some  expres- 
sion of  solicitude  for  the  ))ey's  health,  he  retired  a  few  ste))s. 
when,  suddenly  stopping,  he  turned  to  the  bey,  drew  from  his 
pocket  a  large  envelope,  and  remarked,  "O,  Mr.  Bey,  I  forgot 
to  hand  you  these  papers.  Here  they  are.  Don't  read  them 
now;  you  will  have  plenty  of  time  to  do  that  before  we  leave." 

*I  give  this  story  as  related  to  me  by  a  naval  ojficer. 


128  Two  Wars. 

^\'lu'll  tlic  C'aitlain  was  on  his  way  liack  to  his  shij).  an  ollicer 
of  the  I'ourl.  ridinir  furiously.  ovortooU  liini.  vodv  ))ast.  and, 
])hintinir  his  liorse  in  front  of  tlie  carriaije,  stopped  it.  and.  how- 
in_<r.  exi-lainicil:  "()  howadji.  the  hey  .says  that  chiini  will  he 
paid."  * 

A  few  years  airo  I  was  the  iruest  of  Conunodore  Moriran  at  the 
life-saviniT  station  ou  Indian  River,  or  I'ather  on  the  hroad  At- 
lantic near  Indian  River  inlet,  and  I  reirret  that  I  did  not  think 
to  ask  him  to  tell  me  the  story  himself. 

Society  in  Washington  in  the  forties  was  largely  Soutliern, 
and  had  not  lost  the  courtly  dignity  and  grace  of  colonial  days. 
It  was  ({uiet,  gentle,  and  retined.  w  here  it  is  now  loud,  boisterous, 
and  rough  in  a  measure,  from  the  powder  of  suddenly  accumu- 
lated w  ealth  that  dominates  over  all  the  conditions  of  life,  social 
and  industrial.  On  New  Year's  and  other  occasions  we  used  to 
call  on  Mrs.  Madison.  Her  face  retained  marks  of  that  beauty 
that  has  been  transmitted  to  canvas  and  adorns  the  East  Room 
of  the  presidential  mansion.     1  have  seen  her  wearing  a  turl)an. 

On  the  1st  of  A})ril,  1858,  I  received  a  letter  informing  me  of 
the  death  of  Joseph  L.  Roberts,  who  died  on  the  -?8th  of  ^Nlan-li 
previous  at  his  residence  on  his  plantation  nearNatchez.  ]Miss.,and 
requesting  me  to  come  there  immediately,  if  possible.  Gen.  Jes- 
up,  ever  considerate  as  he  was,  gave  me  leave  to  visit  the  family. 
Mr.  Roberts  had  been  the  cashier  of  the  branch  Bank  of  the  Unit, 
ed  States  at  Norfolk.  Va.,  then  president  of  the  l)ianch  l^ank  of 
the  United  States  Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  and  at  his  death  was 
the  agent  of  the  latter  institution.  His  wife  was  Miss  Mary 
Symington,  one  of  the  l)eautiful  women  of  Philadelphia. 

As  I  had  t)een  engaged  to  Miss  E.  ]\latilda,  their  second  daugh- 
ter, we  Avere  married  on  the  :i()tli  of  April,  IS58,  and  soon  after 
we  went  to  Washington, 

I  remained  on  duty  in  the  War  Department  until  the  spring 
of  1S,'»4.  As  I  had  l)ei'()me  tired  of  hotel  life,  and  Avished  the 
(|nictncss  of  a  home.  I  re([uested  (Jen.  »Jesup  to  assign  me  to 
souie  Western  post,  and  he  sent  me  to  Eort  Smith,  Ark. 

The  military  reservation  of  Fort  Smith  is  separated  from  the 
town  by  a  street,  ami  the  di\  iding  line  Ix'tween  Arkansas  and 
the  Choctaw  Nation  runs  through  the  garrison  grounds.     When 

*'J'()ld  :i.s  n'l:U('(l  to  inc. 


Hi>v<'ATi:i>  Is  1)1  ASS.  129 

Mrs.  l-'rciicli  ci'osscd  the  sli'cct  and  went  into  tlic  town.  I  be- 
canic  l»()tli  llic  coinniandcr  and  the  "fJirrison.  and  "my  rio^ht 
there  was  none  to  dispute." 

My  (hitios  were  li<2ht  and  wi'ic  mainly  reeeivinir  and  t'orwai'd- 
iiiLj"  supplies  to  the  t loops  stationed  at  Forts  Washitu  and  (Jib- 
son.  Seveial  times  I  went  in  a  light  earriao^e  to  Fort  \\'ashita, 
thr()uo;h  the  ("hoetaw  people,  a  distance  of  one  liundi'ed  and 
eiofhty  miles,  accompanied  by  only  my  servant  boy.  The  ac- 
connnodations  on  the  I'oad  were  always  clean  and  tjood  and  the 
ix'ople  kind.  ( )n  one  occasion  my  duties  re(juired  me  to  <i'o  from 
Washita  to  Fort  Towson  (ei*^hty  miles),  on  the  Red  river,  to  ex- 
amine the  public  buildin<rs  nnd  sell  them.  Col.  Braxton  Braofof 
fitted  me  out  on  a  nuile  with  a  hard  saddle,  and  I  started  off 
alone.  That  day  I  rode  forty  miles  to  ''the  bogsry  "  without  see- 
ing' any  person;  rested  at  nio^ht  with  an  Indian  family,  and  rode 
the  next  day  to  Fort  Towson.  I  was  met  there  by  a  conmiittee  of 
Choctaws,  wealthy  men  and  well  educated.  One  of  them  owned 
slaves  in  number  sufiicient  to  raise  three  hundred  l»ales  of  cotton 
yearly,  and  "lived  sumptuously  every  day."  They  went  with 
me  to  examine  the  l)uildino^s.  It  would  have  been  folly  to  sell 
and  destroy  such  property,  for  it  would  brinof  nothino-.  So  I 
reconunended  that  it  l)e  deeded  to  the  Choctaws  for  an  acad- 
emy, and  it  was  o-iven  to  them, 

I  made  a  joui'iiey  to  Fort  Gi])son  throuirh  the  Cherokee  Na- 
tion. I  had  been  advised  to  stop  and  take  breakfast  with  an  In- 
dian family,  foi'  1  would  there,  no  doubt,  see  two  beautiful  and 
accomplished  o-irls,  members  of  the  family.  Report  had  not 
done  them  justice.  There  was  only  a  delicate  shade  of  Indian 
color  in  the  white  skin.  They  were  lithe,  tall,  and  <>:raceful:  and 
nature  _o"ave  them  hands  as  beautiful  as  ever  Praxiteles  shaped 
in  marble.  They  had  lately  returned  fnmi  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where 
they  had  Ixmmi  educated  by  Miss  Willard.      Pojje's 

I.10  tlic  poor  Indian,  whose  untutored  mind 
Sees  (iod  in  riouds.  or  lie:u's  liiiii  in  tlie  wind. 

does  not  i4)ply  to  the  Clioctaw  and  Cherokee  Indians;  many  of 
them  are  well  educated.  I  became  acquainted  with  John  Ross, 
chief  of  the  Cherokees,  in  Washinofon,  and  lately  sent  to  Mr. 
Clyde,  of  New  York,  a  letter  from  John  Ross  to  frame  and  place 
in  the  saloon  of  his  steamship  Cherokee. 


130  Two  Waus. 

Iii(li:in  l)l»n)<l  i>  lnMUir  rapidly  ditruscd  with  the  Mood  of  the 
wliite  man — a  halt'-hrct'd,  (luarler,  and  eiofhth.  Fred  l)ou,fflass 
is  dead — a  mulatto.  Shall  we  eredit  his  inleilio-enee  to  the 
wljite  bU)od  or  the  nesfro'  Sin)])ose  he  had  been  an  oetoroon  ' 
AVhat  then! 

Sometime  duj-inu"  the  year  isr*.")  ("ol.  Henry  Wilson  made 
Fort  Smith  his  headquarters,  and  with  him  eame  Lieut.  .).  11. 
Potter,  adjutant  of  the  Seventh  Infantry,  who  was  a  elassmate 
of  mine.  He  was  a  jovial,  <r<>od  fellow,  and  a  wound  in  his  le<r 
made  it  an  exeellent  indieator  of  rain,  and  was  used  to  ofuide  us 
on  liuntin<r  expeditions.  I'ai-tridjres  were  numerous,  and  dur- 
inii"  the  huntino"  season  nearly  evei'v  afternoon  Mrs.  French  and 
1  in  a  earriaofe,  and  Lieut.  Potter  on  his  ]K)ny,  would  ride  over 
the  prairie  and  have  rare  sport.  We  had  well-trained  doof^i  Jind 
o])en  shootinof,  Jind  time  passed  pleasantly  on.  Fi'om  this  dream 
life  1  was  awakened  to  make  a  visit  to  Natchez.  Miss.,  on  busi- 
ness connected  with  the  estate  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Robeits.  In  com- 
pany with  a  French  planter  on  the  Teche.  in  Louisiana,  whom  I 
invited  to  ffo  wjth  me,  1  started  in  an  am1)ulance  foi-  Little 
Rock.  The  weather  w^as  bitterly  cold,  the  thermometer  bein^  ten 
degrees  below  zero.  The  close  of  the  second  day  brou<rht  us  to 
the  usual  "'stoppinof  place."  l)ut  all  accommodations  were  occupied 
by  the  sheriff,  cruards,  and  prisoners.     The  owner  of  the  house 

told  me  I  would  have  to  go  on  to  Little  Rock,  unless  Capt. , 

who  lived  seven  miles  farther  on,  could  be  induced  to  let  us  stay 
overnight  with  him:  ))ut  that  he  was  a  misanthrope,  and  would 
.see  no  one.  The  gray,  leaden  sky,  the  biting  wind,  the  snow 
that  was  falling  in  dry  pellets,  and  the  bitter  cold  made  our  sit- 
uation desperate,  and  induced  me  to  try  the  ("a))taiii  with  a  little 
adulation. 

How  lonel\'  and  dicaiy  exci'ything  was!  I  knocked  at  the 
door,  I  heard  the  bolts  slide,  and  the  door  was  slowly  opened 
by  the  Captain.  1  introchiced  myself  to  him.  and  told  him  that 
I  was  informed  he  lived  here;  that,  i-egarding  him  as  a  Mexican 
veteran.  1  had  called  to  pay  my  inspects  to  him:  that  1  was  pres- 
ent and  w  itnessed  the  gallant  hght  his  conuuand  made  with  the 
Mexican  lancers  at  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista:  that  I  never 
was  so  cold  before  in  my  life,  except  the  night  of  the  l)attl('  of 
Buena  \'ista.  He  was  silent  till  I  linished.  He  took  my  hand, 
and  said:  "("ome  in."      He  oidcrcd  the  hor.ses  taken  out,  intrcj- 


FiailTISG   FlUE.  131 

<liu('(l  iiic  to  his  wit'c,  und  we  passed  a  })leasant  e\('iiini>'  lieforo 
a  irreal  hlaziiiii"  tire.  Doulit  not  mv  word,  hut  no  one  in  Arkan- 
sas then  belie\ed  that  we  entered  the  portals  of  that  door. 

Learning  that  no  steamers  eould  reach  Litth'  Rock,  we  went 
to  DnvaPs  Bhiti',  on  the  White  river,  for  a  l)oat:  <r<>t  on  tlie  lir.st 
one  that  arrived.  The  Captain  said  he  was  hoinid  for  Memphis, 
hut  would  land  us  at  the  mouth  of  the  White  rivei'  to  iret  a 
down  boat. 

When  near  the  in(tuth  of  the  \\'hite  rivei'.  the  captain  of  the 
hoat  informed  mc  that  the  wharf)K)at  at  tiie  mouth  of  the  river 
had  been  renioved,  andtliat  he  would  carry  us  up  the  Mississippi 
until  we  met  a  down  boat,  and  put  us  on  that.  The  wind  was 
])lowinir  \ioIently.  and  the  I'iver  full  of  tioatino'  cakes  of  ice: 
and  when  we  met  a  boat,  so  violent  was  the  wind,  it  would  not 
answer  our  hail  to  stop,  and  we  went  on  up.  In  the  midst  of 
al]  this  snow.  ice.  and  gale  the  boat  cauofht  tire  in  the  hold,  and 
the  flames  l)urst  up  the  hatchways  very  hi<rh.  The  hatches 
Avere  soon  covered  with  wet  mattresses,  steam  driven  into 
the  hold,  cotton  on  deck  thrown  over1)oard,  and  tiie  l)oat  land- 
ed where  the  l)ank  was  hiofh  and  the  water  deep.  Bagoraofe  and 
fui'nitui-e  were  put  on  shore,  and  tires  built.  Holes  were  l)ored 
in  the  hull  of  the  boat,  but  the  cotton  on  tire  could  not  be  extin- 
ofuished.  Al)out  dusk  the  captain  announced  that  he  would  put 
the  t)ao!'gage  on  tiie  boat  again  and  run  up  the  river  three  miles 
to  a  place  where  he  could  scuttle  her  in  shoal  water  and  i)ut  out 
the  tire.  All  the  passengers  walked  through  the  deej)  snow  to 
the  landing  above,  except  one  man  and  his  wife,  the  French- 
man, and  myself.  It  was  not  pleasant  to  be  on  the  river  in  such 
a  gale,  and  with  the  boat  deck  hot  from  the  tires  beneath;  and 
Avhen  we  did  land  and  made  fast  to  a  wood  barge,  the  owner,  see- 
ing we  were  on  tire,  ran  out  and  cut  our  line  with  his  ax  to  send 
us  adrift.  What  a  punishment  the  crew  of  the  steamer  gave 
him  for  cutting  our  line! 

In  time  a  steamer  going  up  took  us  on  l)oard  and  cari'ied 
us  to  Helena.  After  trials  innumeralde.  and  too  long  to  write. 
1  reached  Natchez  safely.  Nothing  during  the  late  war  e(iuale(l 
this  journey  in  the  sufl'ering  1  leave  untold.  1  rode  out  to  the 
residence  of  (Jen.  rlohn  A.  Quitman,  and  asked  him  to  goon  my 
bond.  He  said:  "•("ertainly  1  will.  Take  dinner  with  us,  and  I 
will  then  2f<>  <lown  with  \'(»u."*   W  hen  we  reached  the  clerk's  office. 


132 


"jTh'o  Tr.j/?.s. 


Ill' asked  Mr.  Innc  the  clerk,  wlial  llie  aiiioimt  would  l»e.  and  I 
lliink  he  i-ei)lii'd  about  one  hundred  and  eiL''hl>'  thousand  dollars. 
AskiniT  for  a  hj,in],-  hond.  he  siifned  it.  and  said:  '"  l^'ili  this  out 
when  necessary  with  any  sum  i'e(|uired.'"  It  was  a  kind  act. 
and  all  he  said  was:  "If  you  should  lia\c  any  Iroiihle.  let  me 
know  it.  and  I  will  aid  you." 

Mrs.  Mar\'  S.  Hoherts  died  April  ".),  \x'.A.  and  it  de\(»l\cd  on 
me  to  take  out  letters  of  administration  on  ihe  estate.  I  then 
returned  to  Fort  Smith  and  eontiiuie<l  on  duty  there  until 
Maich  •_".'.  when  I  tendei'ecl  my  resi^-nal  ion.  .V  i'e|)ly  1o  this 
letter  was  as  follows: 

AiMiTANT  (;i:ni:ij.\i."s  Ofkick.      f 
WASuiN<iroN.  1).  ('.,  April  ','4.  is.")(i.  i 
Sir:  Your  letter  of  the   2!)th   ult..    tendering  tlie    resignation  of  your 
eonnnissions   of  first  lieutenant.  Tliinl  Ai-tillerv.  and  captain  and  assist- 
ant   (piaiMcnnaster  has   been   received   ami    laid   licforc   tlic    Scci'clarv   of 
War.    li.v   whom  I  ani  instructed  to  say  lliat.  as  your  connnuiru'aliou  ap- 
jiears  to  iiave  Ueen    written  undei-  an  ini])i'ession  that   your  leave   wonld 
not  he  extended,  lie  desires  that  you  will  state,  willi  as  little  ilelay  as  jjrac- 
ticai)]e.   if  this  sup])osition  he  correct,  or  wlicliicr  it   is  your  intention  to 
lea\-e  the  service  in  any  event.     A  decision  u])on  your  letlci-  of  rcsi<riia- 
tiiMi  will  l)e  deferretl  until  you  are  heard  from  u])on  the  suhjeci, 
I  am.  sii-.  very  rcsix'ctfully.  your  oiicdieut  sciwaul. 

S.  ('oorKi;.   Ailjiiimil  diiicritl. 
<':ipt.  S.  (;.  I'rcnch,  Assistant  i^uartiriiuister,  I'liited  States  Army,  (ireoiivjllo.  Miss. 

.\s  I  had  tiow.  amono"  other  property,  a  plantation  on  Peer 
Creek,  netir  (ireenville,  tind  over  ;i  hundred  servants  on  it.  I 
.asked  in  re])ly  tlnit  my  i-esi<rn:ition  t)e  accepted.  To  this  letter 
I  rccei\ed  an  tmswer:  '"Your  resio'tiat ion  has  heen  ticcepted 
l»y  the  President  of  the  rnitiMl  Slates  to  lake  ellect  llie  :;ist 
insi.    |May|." 

While  li\inu;-at  I''or1  Smith.  .\rk..  w;is  horn  Malilda  K'olierts 
French,  on  the  KUh  of  Aiio'ust,  IS.-),-). 

The  summer  of  IS,")*;  was  ])asse(l  mtiinly  in  ('anaila.  and  in  the 
aulunin  we  retin-ned  to  the  plantation.  In  the  sprino-  of  Js.M 
Mrs.  French  Jind  her  little  irirl  went  on  it  visit  to  her  sister. 
]\Irs.  John  ( ".  Frein-h.  in  San  .Vntonio.  Tex.,  and  in  May  fol- 
lowino'  I  joined  her  there.  .Vnd  her<'  a  oi-c;it  sorrow  crossed  my 
))ath. 

On  the  morniiio'  (d'  dune  \'-'>  .Mrs.  I-Veiich  o-reelcd  nic  with 
jov  .and  liojx'.  luil  ere  ihe  <l:iy  was  passed  her  life  ended   in   lli.al 


Dkatii  of  Mas.  Fr/:.\(//.  133 

sk'Cj)  "lliMt  knows  11(1  lti(':ikiiiii\"  She  went  to  llic  irr.'ive  for 
luM'  l»!il)V  l)oy.  and  took  him  with  hei-.  ().  thi'  irony  of  futel 
Slic.  the  ])(H'r  of  the  nol)k'st.  crownod  hy  every  irrace,  the  idol 
of  the  house,  the  iicntU'  mother,  tiie  haiKhiiaideu  of  eharity,  tiie 
priestess  of  r('ii<>"ion.  a  heliever  in  its  ])romises,  bowed  to  His 
will,  and  U-ft  all  that  makes  life  attractive  ])efoi-e  aa'c  or  dis- 
ease or  dis.'ipixtiiit meiit  or  «i"rief  or  soi'row  had  chillecl  hei' 
heart,  and  left  a  smile  on  her  face  for  wee])inof  fi'iends.  when 
her  ])iire  spirit  rose  to  meet  her  God.  Her  remains  rest  with 
her  l)al»e  on  her  breast,  beside  her  parents,  in  a  \ault  at  Laurel 
Hill  Cemetery.  Philadeliihia.  Pa.,  where  the  waters  of  the  beau- 
tiful Sehuylkill  i^ently  tlow  l»y  the  portals  of  her  tomb. 

I  remained  in  San  Antonio  until  autumn,  when  I  returned 
home,  lu  March,  l>^58,  1  embarked  on  the  steamer  Kuropa  for 
Liverpool.  As  1  leave  you  my  journal  of  travels  in  Europe,  1 
shall  mention  only  some  of  the  })rinci})al  places  visited. 

Most  of  the  tra\elini>'  in  Italy  was  in  private  carriaofe,  and 
only  in  daylinht.  In  Xajjles.  Home,  and  Florence  I  remained 
a  month  each.  From  London  1  went  to  Paris,  Lyons,  Mar- 
seilles, Toulon.  Naples.  Rome,  Florence.  Pisa,  Modena.  lioloirna. 
Mantua,  Verona.  X'enice.  Milan,  Como,  Isola  Madre,  Isola  Bella, 
Simplon  Pass,  Domo-dosola,  MartijOfny,  Chanioni,  Geneva,  Bien- 
ne.  Ikn'ne.  Interlaken.  \\'ino:en  Al])s.  Grindenwald.  Basle.  Baden- 
Baden,  rim,  Munich,  Salzburo:,  IschI,  Lintz,  Danube  Itiver  to 
Vienna.  Prague,  Dresden,  Berlin,  Potsdam.  Frankfort,  Wiesba- 
den down  the  Rhine,  ("oloirne.  Liesfe.  Brussels.  Waterloo.  Paris, 
London,  Windsor  Castle,  Birmino-ham,  Sheffield.  Doncaster. 
Carlisle.  Edinburgh,  Sterling,  Callander,  The  Trosacks,  Lake 
Katrine,  Dunbarton.  (ilasgow.  Belfast,  Irish  Causeway.  Dublin. 
Chester,  Liver])ool,  home. 

Soon  after  my  i-eturn  from  Fur()})e  1  was  kindly  iii\ite(l  by 
Benjamin  Gould  to  make  him  a  visit  in  Boston.  His  son,  N. 
(ioddard  (roiild.  had.  as  1  have  stated,  been  my  traveling  com- 
panion for  many  months.  Their  home  was  in  Penberton  Square. 
The  family  was  composed  of  charming,  refined,  cultured  ])eo])le. 
and  I  retain  only  pleasant  recollections  of  theii'  kindness. 

I  passed  the  winter  in  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  and  the  sunnner  at 
Rye  Beach.  \.  H.  This  year  (Is.")'.))  some  notable  events  oc- 
curred that  had  impoitant  bearings  in  shaping  the  history,  if 
not  the  destin\ .  of  the  counti'v. 


134  Tno  ^]'AliS. 

llaiiii't  Bccclicr  Stowc's  |)ul>lic!iti()n  of  an  inia^iDative  work, 
•*  Uiu'le  Tom's  ("ahin."  Ilinton  Ilclpi'i's  paiiii)lil('t  called  a 
manit'eslo,  and  ,)olin  Brown's  laid  in  \'ir<riiiia.  to  raise  an  in- 
surrection amonof  the  slaves  and  to  kill  the  whites,  h'ke  distant 
thunder.  ])resaL^ed  the  coniin<r  storm.  His  purposes  of  ///vr- 

(h  r  were  well  known  to  many  prominent  abolitionists  of  the 
North,  who  assisted  iiim  hy  contributions  to  ol)tain  arms  to 
carry  out  his  murderous  desiirns.  The  pai'ty  consisted  of  the 
old  mui-derer.  his  three  sons,  thirteen  white  men,  and  live  ne- 
ofroesfiom  the  North.  They  ol)tained  possession  of  the  armory 
at  Harpei-'s  Ferry  Octobei'  lH.  killinof  a  neofro,  the  mayor  of 
the  town,  and  other  citizens.  On  aiiival  of  the  United  States 
troops  under  Col.  K.  E.  Lee,  the  armoiy  was  ca])tured.  S(mie 
were  killed  in  the  assault,  and  the  remainder  taken  prisoners. 
These  wei'e  tried  and  hunir. 

This  infamous  outraofe  on  the  State  of  Virj^inia,  instead  of 
beintr  condemned  by  the  peo))le  of  the  North,  won  their  admira- 
tion, sym])athy.  and  love  for  ,Iohn  Brown,  and  by  some  he  is 
compared  to  oui-  Saviour,  and  "his  soul  is  still  marchintj  on,"" 
without  peace  or  rest,  like  the  wanderinor  rJew — on.  on — a  ])un- 
ishment  for  his  crimes.  These  events  induced  an  uncalled  for 
and  unjust  feeling:  of  hatred  toward  the  South,  and  the  inten- 
sity of  this  hatred  is  most  siorniticantly  dis])layed  in  the  iijKiflic- 
oi<lsoi  this  murderer,  and  the  coiisiciudinu  of  his  crimes.  Could 
this  be  otherwise  than  a  warning  to  the  Southern  people?  The 
statutes  made  by  the  Northern  States  for  the  tiholitiou  of  sla r- 
I'l-ii  nevei-  s,4  fi'i-,-  a  Hrliitj  yhm-.  They  emancipated  only  the 
iiiihorji.       Now  you  can  c.ompreiiend  the  difi'erence  between  '/A- 

iiliiioii  and  i mn na jxit lan  . 

After  the  wai-  bejraii  many  unusual  exi)edients  were  rcsoi'tcd 
to  tlesijrned  to  increase  the  wild  frenzy  of  the  people  North, 
Amontr  them  \\as  the  spectacle  of  Henry  ^Vard  Beecher  sellin<r 
slaves  fi'om  the  i)ulj)it  statje  of  his  Plymouth  Church,  Brooklyn. 
So  noted  was  this  exhibition  thai  it  is  related  as  one  of  the 
eitfht  notable  events  of  the  niiiclccnlh  ccntui-y.  I  attribute  this. 
act  of  his  to  li<  rrt/iti/. 


CllAPTEK  X. 

Caiiaila.  Boston,  Kyc  Heach — Antislavery  Partj'  Numinalcs  J^inroln  for 
I'resident — His  Election  Evidence  of  Hostility  to  the  South— Mississippi 
Secedes— Gov.  Pettus — Appointed.Colonel  and  Chief  of  Ordnance  in  the 
Array  of  the  State  of  Mississippi— State  Had  No  Arms— Governor  Sends 
an  Agent  to  Eiii-ope  to  Purchase  Arms — Laboratory  foi-  Makinjj  Am- 
munition— Flannel  ami  Paper  to  Make  (Cartridge's  — ( 'artridg(\s  and 
Horse  Collars- Only  Old  Flint  Muskets— Okl  Shotguns— Governor  Ob- 
jects to  the  State  'rroo])S  Going  out  of  the  State — Visit  Home — Am  Of- 
fered the  Ai)poinlinent  of  Brigadier  General.  Confederate  States  of 
America. 

I  SPENT  the  suiiuner  of  1860  at  Rye  Beach,  Bostou,  and  in 
C'anada.  When  I  returned  I  found  the  animosity  between 
the  two  orreat  i)()Iitical  ])artie,s  very  bitter.  Shxvery,  for  the 
iirst  time  in  the  history  of  the  United  States,  had  consolidated 
all  the  ""isms"  and  all  parties  against  the  South,  and  nominated 
Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  ])residency,  save  only  the  Democratic 
})arty,  and  that  was  divided.  On  my  journey  home  1  found  in- 
tense excitement  all  the  way  on  account  of  a  sectional  nomina- 
ti(m  for  President,  and  the  election  of  Lincoln  was  deemed  an 
open  declaration  of  hostility  to  the  people  of  the  South,  and 
drove  them  to  the  act  of  secession.  And  the  people  of  Missis- 
sippi, in  convention  assembled,  repealed  all  the  laws  and  ordi- 
nances ])y  which  she  became  a  member  of  the  Federal  Union, 
and  on  January  9,  1861,  she  was  a  sovereign  and  independent 
State. 

About  the  middle  of  February  1  received  a  verbal  message 
from  the  Governor,  J.  J.  Pettus,  that  he  wished  to  see  me,  and 
soon  after  I  went  to  Jackson.  The  Governor  informed  me  that 
I  had  been  appointed  a  lieutenant  colonel  and  chief  of  ordnance 
in  the  army  of  the  State  of  Mississippi  on  February  12,  1861, 

On  assiuning  the  duties  of  the  office  I  found  the  State  desti- 
tute of  all  military  supplies  and  without  arms.  Investigation 
showed  that  a  mercantile  firm  in  New  Orleans  had  offered,  im- 
mediately aftei-  the  act  of  secession,  to  furnish  arms  from  En- 
gland or  Belgium,  but  it  was  declined. 

Weeks  after,  the  (iovernor  sent  an  agent  to  Euroi)e  to  pur- 
i-hase  arms,  but  it  was  too  late  to  get  any  in    England:   but  in 


136  Two  Wjrs. 

licliriimi  lie  ()l>t!iiiH'(l  soiiic  imiskots.  mikI  shipped  tliciii  on  a  ves- 
sel thai  reached  the  mouth  of  tlie  Mississijjpi  iInci-  just  as  the 
l>h)eka(linof  ships  airi\('d  thei'e.  i  )isco\  (M'inii"  the  Mockade.  thi' 
vessel  Itore  away  tor  Havana,  and  stored  the  arms  there.  Fidin 
Havana  tiiev  were  afterwards  hrouirht  onci'  and  landed  in  small 
(juantities.  I  l)uilt  a  ])ow(ler  house,  and  asked  peiinission  to  ^o 
to  St.  Louis  and  purchase  })o\vder.  and  it  was  refused  on  the 
ofround  or  belief  that  I  would  he  aricsted  tlieic.  and  that  he.  the 
(fovei'iior.  woidd  have  to  ai'i'est  a  person  as  a  hosta<i'e  in  my 
l)lace.  Afterwards  1  wrote  to  a  fi'iend  in  St.  Louis,  and  ob- 
tained two  hundred  kegs  (I  think  that  was  the  numher )  of  ])ow- 
der  and  tifty-four  sets  of  ai'tilleiv  harness,  and  this  was  done 
after  the  town  of  Cairo.  111.,  was  irari'isoned  hy  (Jen.  (Jrant. 

I  purchased  rtyri/ yard  of  flannel  that  could  he  oi>tained  in  New 
Orleans,  Natchez,  Vicksbur_i>".  and  other  towns  for  aitilleiy  car- 
tridires.  and  all  the  pa])er  suitable  for  makin"'  carli'idir^'s  for 
small  arms,  even  includiu<r  wall  ])a])er.  and  could  not  i>"et  enouirh. 
I  was  offered  bj'' a  person  whom  1  knew  in  Philadelphia  a  ma- 
chine for  moldino-  lead  balls  with  die  for  all  caliber  of  small 
arms  (niade  for  the  CJovernor  (leneral  of  Cuba  )  for  a  modei-afe 
sum.  l)ut  theCiovernor  disapproved  of  ofettinii"  it.  Tlien  I  madear- 
ranofements  to  have  one  thousand  lar<ro  Colt's  pistols  with  hols- 
tei's.  etc..  sent  nie  from  Philadelphia.  Twenty  thousand  dollars  in 
the  treasury  was  placed  to  the  order  of  the  express  airent  in 
riackson.  payable  to  him  on  delivery  of  the  <roods.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  <rettin<j:  them  as  far  as  Baltimore,  and  there  they  were 
seized  or  stop})ed.     This  was  in  April. 

When  all  ari-antrements  were  made  for  |)uttino:  up  ammu'ni- 
ti(»n.  the  Confederate  ofovernment  couM  not  send  me  a  person 
that  had  ever  seen  a  cartridofc  made,  and  I  had  to  teach  the 
women  how  they  were  put  up.  The  same  was  line  of  artillei'v 
annnunition.  The  ofnns  were  cast  in  Richmond.  \'a..  but  the 
carria<res  were  made  in  rJackson.  In  makinii'  artillery  harness 
difficulty  was  ex])erienced  in  procui'in,<r  leather,  and  not  one  per- 
son could  be  found  in  the  State  that  had  evei-  made  a  leather 
horse  collar,  so  dependent  were  the  peoyile  of  the  South  foi-  most 
of  the  manufactured  articles  in  common  use. 

As  for  arms  for  the  infantry  and  cavalry,  we  literally  had  none 
fit  for  use.  The  flintlock  muskets  found  in  the  arsenal  at  l)aton 
Kou^e.  1  shipped  from  tinu-  to  time  to  my  meichant.  W  alter  ( "ox. 


A    WoShEHFlI.  (JOLLECTJOX.  137 

in  KtM\  ( )rl('Miis.  who  cniiiloyccl  ;i  o-iinsmitli  toallci'  lliciii  to  pci- 
ciission  lock:  and  caps  for  the  <iiins  came  in  small  (jiiaiilities 
smiiii"<rl*'<l  (>\t'r  tlie  line  from  Tennessee.  H()\ve\er,  as  fast  as 
possible  the  or^rHnixied  eon)i)anies  were  supplied  with  arms  such 
as  we  had  and  v(M-v  jrood  ammunition,  and  went  to  theii"  homes 
to  await  orders. 

When  the  sup[)ly  of  arms  was  exliausted  1  was  directed  l>y  tlie 
Army  Board  to  issue  an  order  for  the  purchase  of  shotirmis.  with 
which  the  (Jovernor  was  bent  on  arniinor  the  troops.  Me  would 
•"()■  niofhts"  come  to  my  room  and  tell  me  lontf  yarns  about  how 
his  father,  or  irrandfather,  once  wnth  a  party  armed  with  shot- 
ofuns  loaded  with  buckshot  waylaid  a  band  of  Indians,  and  killed 
them  all.  Elated  with  this  legendary  story,  he  wanted  /"'■•<  aiiny 
to  be  supplied  with  shotguns,  so  that  he  might  annihilate  the 
pestiferous  Yankees,  should  they  invade  ///-v  domain,  (iens.  Al- 
corn. Dahlgreen,  and  O'Farrel  w'ere  to  superintend  the  eolleetion 
of  these  deadly  shotguns  in  their  respective  depart;nents.  and  I 
was  ordered  to  write  out  instructions  for  their  guidance.  Now. 
lest  we  should  be  biirdi'iied  with  a  lot  of  woi-thless  ai'ins.  they 
wei'e  informed  that  it  was  not  expected  they  would  ])ui'chase  the 
costly  shotguns  at  high  figures,  nor  were  they  to  buy  guns  made 
of  ""tW'O-penny  skip  iron."'  nor  "sham-dam  liai'rels."  cast-iron 
l)arrels,  etc. 

Alas',  when  these  guns  began  to  arrive  the  god  of  war  ne\ei' 
beheld  such  a  wonderful  collection  of  antique  weapons  as  came 
in  for  the  Governor.  There  were  guns  with  only  a  vent,  to  be 
tired  with  a  live  coal,  guns  without  ramrods,  barrels  without 
stocks,  stocks  with(Hit  barrels,  guns  without  cocks,  cocks  with- 
out pans.  One  gun.  1  remember,  consisted  of  a  barrel  that 
tlared  out  at  the  nuizzle  like  a  bell  nailed  on  a  crooked  cy])i'ess 
rail,  without  cock.  ha\ing  only  a  pan  and  \ent.  rc(iiiiring  one 
man  to  hold  it  and  anothci'  to  ''touch  it  off."  It  was  a  valuable 
collection  for  an  anti(|uarian.  l)ut  useless  in  wai-.  I  am  particu- 
lai'  in  describing  this  rcmai-kabic  collection  of  arms.  I)ecause  I 
never  saw  any  of  the  arms  sent  South  by  Secretary  fl.  H.  Floyd, 
and  I  don't  want  any  Northern  wiitei-  to  accuse  him  of  having 
sent  these  shotguns  prixately  to  aid  "rebellion.""  A  /////v/Zr  and 
ro/ip't/r/ifn//  r'jxifi  of  all  the  arms  foimd  in  the  various  arsenals, 
and  all  arms  in  the  possession  of  the  Confederate  States,  was  sent 
me  t)\"  the  Chief  of  Ordnance  of  the  Confedei-ate  2'o\  ei-mnent. 


138  Tno  IV  A  US. 

It  showed  :i  l>i'irL'':irl\'  ;ii'r;i\'  ot  trasli  not  unlike  l'ct1iis'>  colk't'- 
tion  tiirnt'd  oxer  tor  iiic  to  issue  to  his  tioops.  to  aniltiish  the 
'^Mukecs  slioiild  they  inxade  his  toiritoiy. 

I  must  here,  as  a  eontiil)ution  to  war  iiistorv.  say  a  tew  words 
al)oul  the  ( Jo\ crnor's  (//■<>/>'/  s/ri'/f</i/.  Several  conijjanies  of 
Mississippi  ti-oops  crossed  out  ot  his  State,  and  went  to  the 
front  in  Tennessee,  and  weic  icreiscd  by  the  Confederate  army 
then  witli  (Jen.  (J.  ,1.  PiUow  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check.  For 
some  offense  a  few  of  them  wcic  put  in  the  jjuardhoiise.  I  hey 
made  their  escape,  and  came  to  .lackson.  Tlie  (Joxcrnoi-.  Wiley 
V.  Harris,  and  myself  were  in  his  ofHce.  when  two  h)n<>-haire(l 
men  came  in.  and  asked  foi'  his  exceHency.  "  1  am  the  (lov- 
eiiioi."  was  the  reply.  They  told  him  how  they  had  tx'cn  i)ut 
in  tiie  iriiardhouse.  etc..  and  liis  reply  was:  "(io  back  to  your 
company,  and  tell  (Jen.  Pillow  that,  notwithstaiidin<r  you  have 
t)een  nnistered  into  the  Confederate  service,  you  are  by  fiction 
of  law  supposed  to  be  in  the  State  of  Mississi])])i.  and  still  in  my 
command,  and  not  subject  to  his  orders."  eti-. 

On  another  occasion  ("apt.  Maidovc  had  ortjanized  a  conipauy, 
and  by  purchase  or  otlierwise  had  armed  it  with  the  Mississippi 
rifles.  When  the  (Jovernor  learned  tliat  they  contemplated  ijo- 
injT  to  Kichmond.  he  told  me  to  issue  an  order  reijuiiinir  them 
to  turn  in  their  arms.  Ca|)t.  Manlove  came  o\  er  to  see  me  about 
it.  He  was  informed  that  it  was  an  oi'der  of  the  (Jovernor.  and 
would  ha\c  to  be  obeyi'd.  After  dinner  he  asked  mc  pri\ately 
what  I  would  do  if  I  wei'e  in  his  place.  1  told  him  1  could  not 
advise  him.  yet  he  could  <ro  home  at  once,  mustei-  his  company, 
iret  on  the  niirht  ti'ain.  and  in  the  moininu"  l)e  beyond  his  juris- 
dii-tion.  He  <lid  this;  but  when  the  ( Jovernoi'  learned  that  they 
had  passed  thiouirh  the  city  durin<r  the  ni<rht.  he  telejrraphed 
(Jen.  Chai'h's  ('lark,  at  luka.  to  stop  the  company  and  disarm 
then),  which  he  refused  to  do.  Ca|)t.  Sweet  had  an  artillei'v 
company  in  \  icksbui'L'' ^vith  four  <i"uns,  horses,  and  anununition, 
complete  foi'  the  lield.  He  came  o\er  to' see  me  lest  his  iruns  be 
taken,  and  in  a  few  days  utter  he  was  re))oi1e(l  to  be  in  'I'ennes- 
>('(•  in  front  of  the  enemy.  And  so  xcry  pi'opei'ly  the  army  of 
Mississippi  becjtme  less  an<l  less,  by  the  lioops  tliemscKcs  ijoin»r 
(juietly  to  the  fiont  or  liy  his  sendin<r  oi'  loan  inn' troops  for  I'en- 
sacola  and  Tennessee,  etc  I  liaxc  no  desiic  to  make  any  reflec- 
tions on  the  (io\<'rnor.  except   to  |)oint   out   how    his  wav  policy 


Al'rOIS'l'F.I)  lililCADlKl:  (tHSEUAL.  139 

would  lia\('  Ix'cii  iiiinous  to  the  ( 'ontcdcratc  cause.  lia<l  he  l)een 
permitted  to  invite  the  enemy  to  invade  the  "  saiTed  soil  of  Mis- 
sissippi" to  iri'atifv  his  desire  to  anilmsh  them  and  kill  them 
with  shot«rtms.      Tliis  opportunity  was  at1'orde(|  him  in  Isti;;. 

By  the  latter  pai't  of  Au«-ust  most  of  the  Mississippi  troops 
were  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  I  had  worked  u])  and  issued 
all  the  wai-  material  that  could  l)e  oWtained.  and  was  comi)arative- 
ly  idle. 

In  Octoher  1  made  a  \  isit  home  in  (ireen\ille,  and  one  nijofht 
the  servant  came  in  with  the  mail.  I  opened  the  letters  and  read 
them,  hut  amouiT  them  was  a  yellow  envel<)])e  from  (ireenville 
that  1  did  not  open,  supposing  it  to  he  a  bill,  and  turned  my  atten- 
tion to  the  papers.  When  mother  and  sister  rose  to  retire,  lopened 
this  envelope,  and  behold  I  it  was  a  dispatch  from  the  President, 
saying;  ''Will  you  accept  an  appointment  of  brigadier  general? 
Answer.''  And  the  que.stion  then  was,  w'hat  should  I  do  ^  Should 
I  raise  a  company  of  cavalry  or  accept  this  appointment  i  They 
advised  me  to  accept.  Ten  days  after,  I  telegraphed  the  Presi- 
dent accepting  the  appointment.  During  that  time  I  was  in 
Jackson  closing  my  ordnance  accounts.  Why  T  did  not  accept 
the  appointment  at  once  I  cannot  understand  now,  unless  it  was 
so  unexpected  that  1  took  time  to  refiect  the  matter  over.  The 
date  of  the  appointment  was  October  23,  lS(il.  T  had  been  ap- 
pointed a  major  of  artillery  in  the  nquhir  army  of  the  Confed- 
eracy April  2,  18H1, 


(  iiAi*ri-:K'  \i. 

Ia'iivc  for  liicliiiKUHl — OrdiTi'd  lo  K\  ;iiis|)()i-t.  \'a..  to  lilockatic  llir  I'oto- 
niae — Woi-tlilt'ss  AiiiiDiiiiitioii  Foi'ci's  on  llie  MuitIuihI  Slioiv — Con- 
stant Kiruiij  All  Winter — Onlers  lo  Fall  HacU  lo  1- rcdiM-ii-k.sUnr^ — ••C'ome 
to  Kichniond  Ininicdiati'ly  " — Orders  from  (icn.  Lee — New  Berne  Falls 
— Kelieve  Hraneli  at  Kinston  -Oi-den-d  to  Wihninirton  Huild  De- 
fenses— Fort  Fisher  ( 'onstnielrd — Col.  William  Lamb  in  ( 'onnnand — 
Runninfj  tlie  Bloekade — Wliilw  oilli  (inns  -.Inly  17.  is(i-,'.  I'laced  in  Com- 
mand of  the  l)e])arlment  of  North  (arolina  and  Sonthcrn  Virjfinia — 
Defend  a  Line  from  the  Aijponiatlox  to  Cape  Fear — July  81.  Shell  Gen. 
MeClellaiTs  Army — Constnieted  Defenses  of  Peterstmrir — Battle  of  Fred- 
erieksbnrii — Pelham — Pi'esidenl  Calls  for  .Me  (Jen.  Lees  ( 'onsiderate 
Conduct — (ien.  F'oster  at 'I'arboro.  N.  C.  —  lie  Inlrr\  iiw  s  an  Old  Darky 
— Railroad  Bridge  at  Ooldsboro.  N.  C.  Burned  Weak  Defense  Made — 
How  I  (Jot  Sup])lies  from  SniTolkMrs.  Johnston  ami  (ien.  Viele  — Was 
Fannie  Cooper  a  S])y?  Martial  Law  Sidney  Lanier  Flau'  of  Trnee 
Boats — Kxeliaiiii-e  of  Prisoners. 

IN  olK'diciicc  to  orders  received,  1  went  to  Kicliiiioiid  in  No- 
veiiilief.  I  called  on  the  President,  and  then  reported  to  the 
War  I)ei)aiiiiient  for  duty.  Secretary  IJenjaiiiin  told  me  that 
he  wotdd  ])iit  me  on  duty  at  Norfolk:  l»iit  for  some  reason,  when 
tlie  order  came.  1  was  direcle(|  to  reiiexc  (ien.  'rriniitle  and  take 
eomniand  of  the  troops  at  Kvanspoit  and  tlie  Latteries  tliere, 
and  blockade  llie  Potomac  ri\er  lo  pre\cnl  coiinminications  witli 
Washin^'ton  (ily  Ly  water. 

An  earthwork  at  the  month  of  the  (^iiantico  had  Leen  con- 
structed, and  containe(l  nine  or  Ien  nine-inch  l)ahliri"en  o'lms. 
To  these  1  added  li\c  or  six  liea\y  o-ims.  'I'hese  latter  o'tins 
were  far  apart,  and  moimled  in  circular  pils  stink  in  the  earth. 
'I'hiis  isolated,  they  commanded  the  ri\('r  afar.  Loth  up  and 
down,  and  no  concentrated  hre  could  Lc  made  on  them  all  at  the 
same  time.  ()ne\\a>a  laro:^' Kn<rlish  Armstron<r  rilled  ii'iin.  The 
infantry  force  wa>  composed  of  the  reo'iments  of  Cols.  Hrockin- 
Lroiio'h.  NiiLnnia:  .)..].  Pettijrrew.  North  ( 'aroiina :  W.  15.  liate. 
Tennessee:  ('ol.  .1.  d.  diido'e.  .Maltama:  Col.  'I'liomas.  (ieoriria: 
A\'alker.  .\rkan>a^:  I'"ao"an.  .\rkansas:  lironoiioli"-^  Lattalion. 
Arkansas:  (\t\.  Snowden  .\ndrews"s  l)atlery  of  lield  artillery, 
Maryland:  and  (apt.  ^wannV  company  of  caxaiiy.  (apt.  ( 'ha- 
tard.  ('apt.  .M<'('orkle.  Lieiits.  Simnis  and  W  Ood.  ( '.  S.  na\y, 
were   <ri\('n   command   of    some    of    the    land    Latterie>   and    the 


,Ji;ffi;kxin  1)a\i> 


OlWKHKD  TOXhif  i'>i:iiSK.  143 

.steaiiRT  PiiiTc.  ( )n  the  M;ir\'l;iii(l  shore  ()|)|)(»sit('  u>  were  the 
t)i'i<ra(les  of  (iens.  Hooker  uiid  Sickles,  and  some  water  batteries 
of  PaiTott  <runs:  and  above  several  ships  of  war  were  Idockaded, 
and  below  such  ships  of  war  as  eanie  up  from  lime  to  time. 
With  this  force  the  river  was  closed  to  naviiratioii:  and  as  Lord 
Lyons,  the  British  ministei-.  I'emarked  in  one  of  his  dispatches. 
"  Washington  is  the  only  city  in  the  Ignited  States  that  is  really 
blockaded." 

The  ammunition  found  in  the  magazine  for  the  lar<»('  a"ims 
was  very  inditferent.  The  powder  was  a  mixture  of  blastinir 
with  rifle  powder.  Sometimes  the  Armstrong  <run.  at  the  same 
elevation,  would  not  throw  a  shell  moi-e  than  halfway  across 
the  river:  then  apiin  far  over  the  river. 

Din-intr  the  whole  winter,  notwithstandinir  a  ofreat  deal  of 
shellino:  from  the  steamers  l)elow  us  and  the  o])posite  batteries, 
nothing  of  importance  occuri-ed.  It  was  only  the  thunder  of 
big  guns. 

I  think  it  was  on  the  5th  of  March  that  I  received,  contiden- 
tially,  verbal  orders  to  remove  all  stores  to  Fredericksburg,  and 
to  be  prepared  to  fall  back  on  the  Sth  iust.  All  property  was  re- 
moved except  the  heavy  guns.  Some  of  them  were  thrown  into 
the  Potomac,  and  the  remainder  spiked  and  the  carriages  de- 
stroyed. On  the  8th  the  troops  in  my  command  were  on  the 
road  to  Fredericksburg.  On  the  night  of  the  13th  a  telegram 
was  handed  me,  saying:  ''Come  to  Richmond  immediately."  I 
leached  that  city  early  next  day.  Calling  on  the  President,  he 
told  me  that  I  must  go  at  once  to  New  Berne.  N.  C.  and  relieve 
(xen.  L.  O.  B.  liranch,  take  command  of  the  forces  there,  and 
call  at  (ien.  I\.  E.  Lee's  office  for  instructions.  I  found  Gen. 
Jice  at  his  iiome.  and  he  said:  ''  1  want  you  logo  to  New  Berne, 
and  (h-ive  P>urnside  away  from  there  when  he  attacks  the  place. 
When  can  you  go^ "  I  said  by  the  first  train,  retj nesting  him  to 
have  my  stall  and  horses  sent  me  as  soon  as  possible.  The  train 
was  to  leave  in  the  afternoon.  Next  came  a  message  from  the 
President,  telling  me  tliat  he  wisiied  mc  to  call  at  once.  1 
did  so,  and  he  then  informed  mc  that  he  had  just  received  a  dis- 
patch that  New  Berne  had  fallen,  but  that  I  nuist  go  down  and 
;assume  command. 

I  found  Gen.  Branch  at  Kinston.  lie  received  mc  wvy  cor- 
dially, and  offered  to  aid  mc.      I  disliked  to  hand  him  the  orders. 


lU  Two   Wahs. 

liei'Miisi'  tlicy  were  writlcii  Wctorc  llu'v  knew  llic  Wall  Ic  li:i<l  hccii 
touirlit.  1  ni:i(l('  an  inspection  of  the  Iroops.  and  foinul  tlicni 
rhccrt'ii!  and  sccniinir'ly  not  :it  all  di>coiirai;"cd  lt\-  tlicii'  defeat. 
'I'liis  was  on  tile  ITtli.  On  the  I'titli  1  icceiNcd  a  dispatdi  ordei'- 
iiiil"  me  to  WilininiiMon.  as  there  was  some  aj)i)rehension  of  that 
pinee  Iteinu"  altaeked.  and  I  went  there  withont  delay,  (ien.  Jo- 
seph R.  Anderson  siici-eeded  to  the  ronunand  at  Kinslon. 

( )n  ai'ri\  ini!"  at  W'ihninirton.  the  liist  duty  was  the  ininietliate 
examination  of  the  defenses  at  the  month  of  the  Cape  Fi'ar  ri\er. 
Foit  Caswell  was  in  fair  condition  for  defense,  and  any  vessels 
passino-  it  woidd  inci-t  ri\ei' ohstriictions  while  under  short  ranofe 
of  the  iTuns.  l-'ort  Fisher  was  a  small  unlinished  work.  c«»nsist- 
inji"  of  a  i-asemate  \)\\\Wv\  front  ni</  I  In  ncnin.  and  a  line  of  works, 
neai'ly  at  riirht  an<rles  w  ith  this,  that  ran  hack  iidand.  This  lattei- 
line  constituted  the  land  s^-aside  defense,  while  the  u'lms  also 
coimnanded  the  channel  and  the  entrance  thereto.  'I'his  face  I 
continued  inland  to  the  edo-e  of  the  marsh,  niakini;'  it  pei'iiaps  a 
third  of  a  mile  in  lenii"th.  From  my  assumina"  command  in  March 
untii^I  was  ordei-ed  to  Petersl>ur<2:  in  fluly  I  ijave  this  fort  much 
care,  and  kept  a  lari:"e  foi'ce  at  work.  Comniencino:  at  the  ria^ht 
of  the  casemate  hattery.  1  caused  a  line  of  revetment  to  he  [)ut  uj). 
extendino-  parallel  with  the  ocean,  a  <listance  of  i)erhai)s  half 
a  mile:  knowing-  the  winds  wouhl  Mow  the  sands  up  and  make  a 
uflacis  in  front:  and  so  the  windstoi'ms  blew  thousands  of  tons  of 
sand,  formino-  a  smooth  slo))e  to  the  seashore.  Fiom  this  front 
we  constructed  a  line  hack  to  the  mai'sh.  and  tiience  up  to  the 
line  i-unninn'  hack  fi'om  the  casi'male.  It  was  an  enoi'inous  work. 
and  its  2"ai'rison  should  not  have  heen  less  than  three  thousand 
men.  ( )utside  the  sea  front,  neai'  the  ocean.  I  sunk  a  pit.  as 
deep  as  admissible,  and  mounted  the  lai'ij-est  of  the  'IVecle^'ar 
irnns.  that  swept  the  horizon  in  e\ciy  direction. 

Maj.  Kendrick  was  in  conunand  of  i''orl  Fishei' for  some  t  ime. 
1  helie\c  it  was  at  his  own  re(piest  that  he  was  i-elie\ed.  and  1  ])ut 
( 'ol.  William  LamI)  in  conunand  in  his  place,  and  he  i'emaine<l 
there  until  it  was  captiucij.  January  I  .">.  lS(').").  j  mention  this 
because  it  is  a  pait  of  the  history  of  the  foit. 

'riiei'c  wcic  many  incidents  connected  with  h'ort  l-ishcr  whilst 
in  my  connn.and  at  \\  i  Imini^ion.  I  had  constructed  a  tele<i"iaph 
from  WilmiuL^ton  tohdrt  l''i->her.  ( )ne  niorninu'earU'  1  reci'ixed 
a  tele<ri-am  stalinir  that  a  "■  blockade  steamer"  had  been  lam  ashore 


Unloading  a  Blockadkh.  145 

near  the  fort,  desio-nedly,  because  she  was  tired  on  by  the  blockad- 
inir  ships  and  had  much  powder  on  board,  and  that  a  messenger 
Jiad  reached  the  fort,  askiuof  the  connnander  to  sink  his  steamer  to 
Kiicr  the poivdei\  and  askino:  me  for  orders.  However,  before  he 
ofot  my  reply  to  "not  tire  a  shot  at  the  steamer,"  a  shot  was 
tired  at  her  from  Fort  Fisher,  and,  strikintj  beh)w  the  water  line, 
she  gradually  tilled.  All  the  shells  of  the  enemy  fell  short.  We 
took  charge  of  the  abandoned  steamer,  and  sent  tw^o  lines  from 
her  to  the  shore,  and  with  the  labor  of  two  hundred  men  removed 
all  the  cargo  to  the  depth  of  six  feet  in  the  water.  The  brandy, 
whisky,  ale,  ])()wder,  medicines,  and  above  all  six  Whitworth 
tield  guns,  were  landed.  Two  of  these  guns  were  kept  at  Fort 
Fisher.  As  their  range  was  about  six  miles,  I  instructed  Col. 
Lamb  to  select  good  men  for  them,  and  practice  with  them  in- 
land, so  as  not  to  let  the  enemy  know  the  range.  When  this 
was  done,  one  bright  day  when  all  was  quiet,  and  the  lazy 
blockaders  were  lying  at  anchor  about  three  miles  otf  the  fort, 
these  tAvo  guns  oj)ened  on  them,  creating  a  lively  scene.  Black 
smoke  l)egan  to  stream  up  from  the  smokestacks  of  the 
steamers;  sails  were  thrown  to  the  wind  from  the  ships  in  all 
haste,  and  the  scpiadron  went  seaward.  When  they  returned, 
they  anchored  out  of  range,  and  from  this  time  on  I  requested 
all  blockade  runners  (steamers)  on  arriving  to  make  the  mouth 
of  the  channel  at  dawn  and  run  in  by  daylight  out  of  reach  of 
the  enemy's  guns. 

Soon  after  this  another  steamer  came  in  from  Nassau,  and 
Capt.  McCorkle,  of  the  navy,  and  I  got  into  a  yawd  with  two 
sailors  and  went  out  to  meet  her.  We  found  a  young  "my  lord" 
from  England,  who  had  run  the  blockade  to  carry  a  "free  lance" 
and  have  some  "fun"  with  the  Yankees.  He  had  been  pent  up 
on  shipboard  and  was  full  of  life,  and  asked  us  to  take  him  ashore 
in  our  boat.  When  we  shoved  off,  he  insisted  on  taking  one  of 
the  oars  for  mere  relief  to  the  exuberance  of  life.  We  had 
almost  three  miles  to  row,  and  McCorkle,  as  boatswain,  man- 
aged the  rudder  so  as  to  give  him  an  opportunity  to  display  his 
strength.  When  he  began  to  weaken,  McCorkle  would  cry  out, 
"(xive  way,  my  lord,"  to  encourage  him.  When  we  reached 
camp,  he  was  not  so  restless;  but  he  was  a  jolly  good  fellow,  and 
I  hope  he  had  an  opportunity  given  him  to  gratify  his  inclina- 
tion to  tight. 
10 


146  Tn-o  Wal's. 

My  voluiiti'cr  aid.  Baker,  was  ofiven  a  iiionlli's  leave.  He  ob- 
tained a  small  boat  and  loaded  her  with  nine  bales  of  cotton, 
and.  with  only  a  small  boy  to  tend  the  jib  sail,  put  out  for  Nas- 
sau, reached  ])ort. safely,  and  sold  the  boat  and  carsfo.  He  re- 
turned on  a  vessel  that  ran  the  l)lookade  at  Charleston,  and 
broiiofht  me  a  '*  })itir'  India  hat,  irloves.  kid  sfaiter  shoes,  and 
other  acceptable  articles,  ^\'ith  him  on  the  steamer  came  a  dis- 
tinsruished  otiicer.  carryiiiir  a  saber  as  largfe  as  the  sword  of  Wal- 
lace, who  was  ""spoilino:"*  for  a  Hirlit,  as  he  expressed  it  at  a  din- 
ner ofiven  him  by  some  of  the  officers  in  Charleston.  He  was  a 
genuine,  a'ood  soldier,  entered  our  service,  and  often  distinguished 
himself  while  chief  of  staff  for  Uen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

I  was  kept  very  busy  durino;  my  stay  in  Wilminsfton  in  con- 
structinof  defensive  works.  \  forfijied  the  city  of  Wlhni)i(/to)i ; 
put  up,  or  mounted,  isolated  ofuns  on  the  1)luft'  banks  of  the  riv- 
er, and  otherwise  defended  the  city  from  the  approach  from 
seaward. 

And  now  were  '"fouii'lit  the  fiii'hts"  around  Richmond,  and  1 
was  down  here  dio-orinof  dirt  without  much  honor  or  renown,  and 
when  they  terminated  an  order  came,  July  17,  placinof  me  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  North  Carolina  and  Southern 
Virginia.  (Jen.  ^^'.  II.  ('.  Whiting;  was  given  the  command  of 
the  defenses  of  ^ViImington,  and  I  was  requested  to  name  cei-- 
tain  counties  around  the  city  to  give  him  a  separate  command. 
He  continued  there  until  Fort  Fisher  w^as  captured,  as  stated,  on 
Jamiary  15,  18H.">.  Although  it  was  sul)jected  to  a  terrific  bom- 
b.irdment,  the  rei)ort  shows  that  out  of  forty-seven  heavy  mount- 
ed guns  twenty-live  of  them  and  their  carriages  were  serviceable 
when  captured.     How  difiicult  it  is  to  destroy  sand  forts! 

Fort  Sumter,  with  its  walls  crumbled  into  dust  by  four  years 
of  bombardment,  never  was  captured,  and  its  defense  stands 
olon(\  un])aralleled  in  the  history  of  the  world,  and  before  which 
all  others  })ale.  See  ,Jollification  Order,  Vol.  L.,  No.  10(5,  page 
1143,  'AVar  Records,''  when  information  was  sent  to  the  Cuited 
States  troops  that  the  Confederates  had  left  the  fort. 

Occasionally  some  war  steamei's  would  come  near  enough  to 
throw  shells  into  Fort  Fisher,  but  they  did  \ery  little  damage. 

The  main  annoyance  was  the  r('])orts  given  out  that  e\crv  large 
naval  expedition  was  designed  for  ^\'ilmington.  On  one  of  these 
occasions  a  company  of  volunteers,  mainly  Ikh'i/, i-s  imd  thelil'e^ 


Constructing  Defenses.  147 

most  ek'ocant  lueii,  iirrivcd  in  W'iliiiiiiiiloii  t'loiii  Fiiycttcv  illc  and 
tendered  their  services  to  defend  Fort  Fisher.  Althou<rh  I  had 
learned  the  destination  of  the  fleet  was  not  the  Cape  Fear  river, 
I  accepted  their  services,  sent  them  to  Yori  F'isher,  and  pat  them 
to  work  with  wheell)arrows  and  shovels  to  build  i-amparts.  It 
Avent  hard  with  them  at  tirst,  but  after  a  while  tliey  considered 
it  as  being  a  rather  ofood  offer  too  prolonofed.  Their  complexions 
were  soon  tanned,  their  hands  l)listered.  They,  however,  made 
the  time  pass  away  merrily,  worked  hard,  slept  well,  improved  in 
health,  and  when  their  time  expired  Capt.  Devereux  and  his  com- 
panions thanked  me  for  the  opportunity  o^iven  them  to  fio;ht  for 
the  cause,  and  makinof  the  fort  impreo;nable,  as  they  expressed 
it.     They  enjoyed  workino^  because  they  were  men  of  character. 

The  battles  around  Richmond  had  been  fought,  and  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan  driven  to  seek  shelter  at  Harrison's  Landing,  on  the 
James  river,  under  cover  of  the  heavy  guns  of  the  navy.  Gen. 
R.  E.  Lee's  army  rested  around  Richmond.  My  line  of  defense 
commenced  (m  the  James  near  Drewry's  Bluff',  thence  down 
the  James,  down  the  Blackwater,  thence  on  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Cape  Fear  river,  over  three  hundred  miles  in  length,  with  the 
enemy  at  intervals  along  the  front  at  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Wash- 
ington, Plymouth,  New  Berne,  and  other  places,  constantlj^ 
threatening  and  making  raids.  It  was  imposing  on  me  unceas- 
ing labor  and  a  grave  responsibility;  and  I  will  here  remark, 
once  for  all,  that  during  my  command  of  this  department,  al- 
though Smith,  Hill,  and  Longstreet  were  temporarily  in  com- 
mand, at  intervals,  they  did  not  remain  in  the  department  any 
length  of  time,  or  interfere  with  the  defense. 

Sometime  toward  the  last  of  July  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  who  had 
no  command,  came  over  from  Richmond,  and  as  no  defensive 
works  had  been  constructed  for  Petersburg,  the  matter  was  men- 
tioned, and  it  resulted  in  our  riding  out  and  selecting  a  point  on 
the  Appomattox  river  to  start  from:  and  we  determined  on  the 
line  to  the  City  Point  railroad,  thence  on  by  the  farms  of  Hare, 
Friends,  and  Dunns.  And  as  I  may  not  refer  to  it  again,  I  will 
state  I  went  to  work  with  my  troops,  and,  staking  out  the  line, 
coiidrvcttid  tJie  entire  'H'orJcs  (tround  the  c'lfiu  crossing  the  Jeru- 
salem pike  and  on  to  the  lead  works  on  the  P.  and  ^^^  railroad. 
It  took  one  year  to  build  this  line,  and  it  served  a  good  pur])ose 
in  the  end,  and  irave  one  year  of  life  to  the  Confe<leracv. 


148  Tivo  Wars. 

On  lhe\'veniii<j:  of  July  28  Cicii.  Hill  hundccl  iiic  a  letter  from 
(ien.  Lee  statinsr  that  he  would  send  over  to  Petersburg  the  next 
day  (len.  A\'.  H.  Pendleton,  his  ehicf  of  artillery,  Avitii  six  ])at- 
teries.  To  tlie>e  other  t)atteries  eould  he  added  as  desired,  the 
whole  to  2"o  down  to  Cooforius''s  Point,  on  the  James,  and  attaek, 
at  ni<rht.  the  shippinjr  and  eanip  of  the  Federal  army  at  Harri- 
son's Landinof.  on  the  opposite  shore;  and  that  I  should  eonunand 
the  expedition,  ete.  Accordinffly  1  inereased  the  number  of 
<runs  to  seventy-five,  and  desig'nated  (Jen.  DanieFs  briirade  as  the 
eseort.  We  started  on  the  morning  of  the  30tli,  intending  to 
make  the  attaek  that  night.  The  forces  were  halted  in  the  woods. 
I  then  i-ode  down  with  Gen.  Pendleton  to  the  dwelling  of  Mr. 
Kuthn,  on  the  river,  to  reconnoiter  the  grounds  and  select  posi- 
tions for  the  guns.  At  Kuffin's  I  took  otl  my  coat,  put  on  a 
straw  hat,  hoisted  an  umbrella,  and  in  the  seeming  garb  of  a 
farmer  examined  the  sliore,  rode  down  to  the  river  and  watered 
my  horse  near  a  war  steamer.  After  going  down  a  half  mile  I 
returned.  It  was  then  growing  late,  and  we  started  back.  To 
my  astonishment,  in  the  darkness,  I  met  the  artillery  moving 
toward  the  river.  As  not  one  captain  had  any  idea  of  the  ground, 
every  gun  was  ordered  l)aek,  and  such  troulde  to  encanii).  l)y 
reason-of  the  intense  darkness,  seldom  occurs,  (ien.  Hill,  who 
was  in  camp,  said  we  would  "be  dUcoveved  veirt  day."  and  he 
returned  to  Petersburg.  The  next  morning  the  cai)tains  of  the 
batteries  were  instructed  to  go  through  the  clover  fields  to  the 
river  bank  and  select  positions  for  their  guns.  This  was  done 
without  attracting  the  notice  of  the  enemy,  or  the  hundi'eds  of 
vessels  in  the  stream. 

As  the  day  closed  a  drizzling  mist  made  the  darkness  fJiick. 
Like  the  interior  of  the  Mammoth  Cave,  it  could  be  felt,  but  not 
seen.  However  forty-live  guns  were  put  in  position,  exclusive 
of  the  two  long  Parrott  guns  captured  at  ^Manassas.  Amidst 
such  darkness  what  a  beautiful  sight  was  before  us  I  Ten  thousand 
lights  from  the  shipping  and  the  camp  shone  the  brighter  from 
some  reflection  of  the  darkness  that  should  have  obscured  them. 
At  midnight  the  l)attery  on  the  I'ight  was  to  open  lire,  to  be  fol- 
lowed in  (|ui(;k  succession  along  the  line,  and  in  a  minute  it  was 
a  eontiiHious  tii'c.  Soon  the  lights  were  all  extinguished,  save 
one  oi'  two  on  some  lone  ciaft  in  the  river,  ^\'hen  the  tiring 
conniienced  all  the  iiionitoi's  and  othei-  war  \'essels  ino\'ed  u])  the 


A  XlG  II T  A  TTA  CK.  149 

river  to  meet  tlie  irnnddd  luiill  in  Kiclimoiid  tlinl  was  ri'jxjrted 
to  l)C  rcjidy  to  eoiiie  down  the  ri\  er,  mid  so  we  were  not  suhjected 
to  any  lire  exeept  from  one  <rinil)oat,  and  from  some  ^\'hitwol•tll 
ofuns  that  sent  bolts,  whistlintr  like  hirds,  hijrh  over  our  heads. 
As  the  day  dawned  the  o-nns  were  withdi-awn  and  we  returned 
to  Peters) )uro:.  The  report  of  Gen,  Pendleton  and  my  own  ean 
be  found  in  the  war  reeords.  There  were  no  easualties  on  oui- 
side.     It  was  real  anuisement. 

Oftieers  of  the  Union  army,  years  after,  <j:ave  me  aeeounts  of 
the  wild  eonfusion  in  their  camps.  Unexpected  as  a  midnight 
earth<|uake  it  hurst  u})on  theslumberinirarmy.  Horsesand  nuiles 
broke  loose  and  ran  atirighted  over  the  grounds,  stumbling  over 
tent  cords.  Captains  shouted  everywdiere  for  men  to  fall  in 
line.  The  l)lue  w^as  here  and  there  mingled  with  midnight  sum- 
mer's sleeping  uniforms  of  white  indeseribahles,  airy  and  cool, 
that  were  seen  only  by  the  light  of  bursting  shells.  Gen.  Alfred 
Pleasanton  told  me  he  could  find  nothing  in  his  tent  to  put  on, 
except  now  and  then  by  the  light  of  the  shells,  and  my  good 
friend,  Gen.  Rufus  Ingalls,  in  the  first  letter  he  wrote  me  after 
the  surrender,  said:  "  You  don't  know,  dear  Sam,  how  near  you 
came  killing  me  that  night,  wdiich,  had  it  happened,  w  ould  have 
been  a  great  sorrow  to  you."  1  was  informed  that  a  war  cor- 
respondent wrote  a  letter  severely  criticising  Gen.  McClellan's 
inability  with  eighty  thousand  men  to  offer  any  resistance  to  this 
attack,  that  w^as  successfully  used,  with  other  charges,  ])y  his 
enemies  to  have  him  relieved  from  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  McClellan,  perhaps  mortified  that  his  position  was 
shelled  without  being  able  to  make  any  defense,  treated  the  mat- 
ter very  lightly  in  his  reports.  He  had  not  taken  the  precau- 
tion to  place  any  guns  on  the  river  bank,  and  the  intense  dark- 
ness prevented  moving  artillery  through  his  camp.  Besides,  he 
could  not  use  guns,  as  the  ships  and  vessels  of  every  kind  lined 
the  river  shore  and  were  in  the  way. 

Gen.  Lee  directed  me  to  have  my  scouts  watch  McClellan's 
movements  closely,  especially  movements  of  the  shipping  down 
the  James.  In  time  I  reported  the  departure  of  the  transports, 
and  the  crossing  of  the  Chickahoniiny  with  the  infantry.  Soon 
after  followed  the  battles  of  Cedar  Run,  August  9;  the  second  Ma- 
nassas, September  2,  where  Pope  met  his  reward;  then  Freder- 
icksburg, Deceml)er  13,  where  the  vain  Burnside  was  defeated. 


loO  Two  Wars. 

There  is  an  incident  eonneeled  with  this  last  battle  that  I  will 
here  rehite.  althouirh  it  has  l)een  published  in  a  magazine  ea lied 
the  Confiil.  I'lit'  Vrltrxii.  The  Federal  army  had  crossed  the 
Rappahannock  river  and  formed  in  line  of  battle  to  attack  the 
Confederate  army  on  the  heights  beyond.  Maj.  Pelham  com- 
nianded  a  battery  belonging  to  Stuart's  cavalry,  away  on  our 
right  flank,  in  age  a  youth,  in  character  a  hero.  When  the  Fed- 
eral Iwie  connnenced  to  advance,  in  full  view  of  friends  and  foe, 
in  the  silence  that  often  precedes  a  great  battle,  Pelham,  with  a 
piece  of  artillery,  dashed  forward  between  the  two  armies,  halt- 
ed, a  putf  of  smoke,  a  shell  burst  over  the  Federal  line,  and  in 
a  moment  the  tire  of  twenty  l)atteries  centered  on  that  lone  gun; 
and  there,  amidst  shrieking  shot  and  bursting  shell,  flame  and 
smoke,  that  detachment  of  Frenchmen  worked  their  gim  and 
stayed  the  battle  near  an  hour,  all  the  while  singing  the  "Mar- 
seillais,"  which  was  now  and  then  heard  for  a  moment,  borne 
by  the  titful  l)reeze,  in  the  break  of  an  almost  continuous  roar 
of  artillery.  France  and  glory  evermore  abides  in  the  hearts  of 
Frenchmen.  ^lacaulay,  in  his  lays  of  ancient  Rome,  tells  in 
song  the  story  of  lloratius  and  his  two  friends  defending  the 
bridge  over  old  Til)er  against  the  hosts  of  Lars  Porsena,  and 
here  is  a  deed  of  modern  date  that  rivals  that  of  old,  and  some 
day  it  will  be  a  theme  of  inspiration  for  a  poet.  A  boy,  one 
gun,  eight  Frenchmen  holding  in  check  so  long  eighty  thousand 
men  I 

Sometime  in  Noveml)cr.  I  think  it  was,  I  received  a  dispatch 
from  the  President  to  come  over  to  Richmond.  On  calling  at 
the  President's  house  I  found  Gen.  Lee  there.  The  (leneral 
asked  mc  what  was  the  least  number  of  tr()o})s  I  would  require, 
for  a  short  time,  to  hold  my  line.  Reflecting  awhile.  I  said 
about  six  thousan<l.  His  i'e])ly  was:  ''That  is  reasonat)Ie.  When 
you  rctuiii  order  all  above  that  nunibci'  to  I'cport  to  me.''  Now 
T  write  this  as  an  illustration  of  the  delicate  consideration  Gen. 
Lee  had  for  the  ofHccrs  undei-  him.  He  could  have  ordered  from 
the  dc])ar1nicnt  such  ti'oops  as  he  <lcsii'c(l.  without  seeingme,  but 
he  was  e\('r  a  gentleman,  and  considerate  to  every  one. 

I  have  not  the  date,  my  papers  ha\ingbeen  turned  over  to  my 
successor,  but  it  was  during  the  winter  of  1862-63  that  Gen. 
Foster  made  a  I'aid  fi'om  New  F)erne  up  to  near  Tarboro,  N.  C, 
and  as  soon  as  1  could  ascertain  his  designs  and  <)l)jective  point 


Foster's  Raid.  151 

I  t>('<ran  to  conrciitiate  troojjs  to  meet  liiiii.  1  <assenil)le<i  about 
eioflit  thousand  tioops  atTarboro,  Foster  was  at  a  village  about 
twelve  miles  distant.  Durinir  tlie  afteinoon  lie  mai'clied  on  one 
road  toward  Tarltoio.  and  I  moved  on  anotliei'  to  meet  liini,  and 
on  the  road  that  he  was  reported  to  be  on.  When  night  came 
we  were  near  eaeh  other  on  diti'erent  roa<ls,  and  ])re])arations 
were  made  for  l)attle.  In  the  morninor  Foster  was  far  away  on 
his  road  to  New  Berne.  It  was  cold,  and  snow  covered  the 
irround.  and  })ursuit  was  useless  except  by  cavalry.  There  was 
br()uo:ht  to  me  an  old  netjro  slave  who  was  with  Foster  during 
that  night,  and  the  following  was  his  story: 

Well,  master.  1  will  tell  you  how  it  was.  You  see  I  was  going  from 
Tarboro  out  on  that  road  unbeknownst  that  the  Yankees  was  there.  Well. 
for  sure,  some  of  dem  Yankees  on  horseback  cried,  "Stop  dar,"  and  asked 
me.  "Where  you  live,  and  where  j^ou  goiu'?"  I  told  how  it  was.  and 
they  said,  "Come  along,  old  man,"  and  they  took  me  to  theginneral.  He 
was  in  a  house  sitting  on  a  sofa,  and  he  saj'S  to  me,  "Ai'e  you  from  Tar- 
boro? "  and  I  said,  "Yes,  master;  "  and  then  he  saj's,  "Take  a  seat  here.'-^ 
So  I  sot  down  just  this  way.  He  was  on  this  side  of  me,  and  I  was,  as  it 
might  be,  on  tother  side  of  him.  He  looked  kind  to  me,  and  says  to  me: 
"  You  know  we  are  friends  of  the  colored  people,  and  so  you  must  tell  me 
de  truth."  Then  he  says:  "Mose  [for  I  had  done  told  him  my  name], 
Mose,  are  there  many  soldiers  in  Tarboro?"  I  told  him  there  was  in  de 
morning  more  men  than  I  had  ever  seen  in  my  life,  and  I  tells  him  where 
thej'  went  to.  Then  he  asks  me:  "Mose,  have  they  much  cabalry?" 
"Cabalry?  what  you  mean  by  dat?  "  "Have  thej'  many  men  on  horses?  " 
And  I  says:  "Bless  your  soul,  master,  I  neber  have  seen  as  many  black- 
bii'ds  in  de  cornfields  as  dey  have  horses  thar;  everywhere  you  go  j'ou 
see  dem  men  on  horses."  "Have  they  many  guns?  "  "Sure,  eberj'  man 
hab  a  gun."  "You  don't  understand  me,  Mose,"  says  he;  "have  they 
many  cannon  on  wheels? "  Then  I  ups  and  tells  how  when  dem  cannon 
went  out  of  town  I  sot  on  de  ground  on  my  knees  in  a  joint  of  fence  in  a 
cornfield  on  tother  side  de  road  and  looks  through  de  rails  and  counts 
them,  and  dar  war.  for  sure,  just  sixty-four  of  dem.  Next  he  asked  me 
what  ginnerals  were  there,  and  I  told  him  I  ain't  particlarly  '(luainted  with 
dem,  but  that  1  had  heard  tell  of  Ginneral  Martin  there,  who  had  but  one 
arm.  Then,  after  thinking  for  some  time,  he  called  a  man  an<l  told  him 
to  take  care  of  me  and  not  let  me  get  away.  Soon  they  beat  de  drums  and 
blowed  de  horns,  and  they  all  got  readj'  and  was  going  back,  and  in  the 
big  crowd  1  slips  out.  and,  bless  the  Lord,  I  am  home  here  with  de  ole 
woman  and  children. 

Whether  Foster  was  intluenced  by  the  information  he  got  from 
old  ^lose,  I  know  not,  ))ut  such  was  the  old  negro's  story  as  he 
related  it  to  me  the  next  day,  as  I  remember  it. 


152  Two  U\u.'s. 

I  ;mi  (juite  sure  vaDdalisni  (espeoinlly  stcaliiiii- )  coiiiim'iu-od  in 
New  Berne,  for  the  pianos  and  furniture  shi|)})ed  from  tliere 
decorate  to-day  many  a  Northern  home.  At  Hamilton  most 
of  the  dwelliniTs  had  been  entered,  mirrors  broken,  furuiliire 
smashed,  doors  torn  from  their  hinges,  and  especially  were  tlie 
feather  lieds  em[)tied  in  the  streets,  spokes  of  carriaire  wheels 
broken,  and  cows  shot  in  the  fields  by  the  roadside,  etc.  It  was 
a  pitiful  siofht  to  see  the  women  and  children  in  their  destitute 
condition.  Alas!  toward  the  end  it  was  an  everyday  occurrence, 
and  llic  main  object  of  small  expeditions  was  to  steal  private 
property. 

Pretty  early  in  December  a  lady  correspondent,  outside  of 
New  Berne,  informed  me  that  it  was  reported  that  the  troops  in 
the  town  were  to  move  out  and  attack  Wihnington,  or  destroy 
the  railroad  to  that  place.  I  kept  (Jen.  (t.  A\'.  Smith,  in  Rich- 
mond, whose  command  eml)raced  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
advised  of  the  information  received,  and  he  went  throuo^h  Pe- 
tersbursf,  stoppin"'  to  see  me,  and  then  went  on  to  Goldsboro, 
N.  C,  to  await  developments. 

My  diary  says: 

Lefl  I'etersbiu'g  December  15,  in  the  evening  train  for  Weldon. 
From  there  ordered  the  horses  and  eqniiDments  l)y  land  road  to  Goldsl)oro. 
Also.  l)y  command  of  Gen.  G.  W.  Siuith,  I  ordered  (^ol.  Martin's  regiment 
to  (ioldsijoro.  I  left  in  Petersburg,  awaiting  transi)ortation.  the  Missis- 
sippi regiments  and  some  of  Daniel's  Brigade  and  Bradford's  Artillerj'. 
Leaving  Weldon,  1  proceeded  to  Goldsboro,  and  arrived  there  at  7:30  a.m. 
on  the  16th,  and  took  the  train  to  Kinston.  Reached  Mosely  Hall  about 
10  A.M.  Found  Gen.  Evans  there.  At  this  time  there  was  heard  heavy 
firing  at  llie  Whitehall  bridge  over  the  Neuse  river.  The  tiring  increas- 
ing rapidl}\  I  sent  to  Gen.  Robertson  Col.  Burguin's  regiment,  and  Gen. 
Pettigrew  to  take  command  if  it  should  prove  to  be  a  determined  attempt 
to  cross  the  river,  which  1  doubted.  This  regiment  did  not  reach  there  in 
time  to  render  any  material  assistance.  The  troops  engaged  were  Ijcven- 
thorpe's  Eleventh  North  Carolina,  a  ])art  of  Feribee's  and  Evans's  Bri- 
gades, Jordan's  Thirty-First  North  Carolina,  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  A 
battery  I  .sent  did  not  reach  there  until  the  tight  was  over.  In  this  affair 
we  lost  aljout  thirtj'  killed  and  wounded.  We  had  about  five  hundred  men 
engaged,  and  the  enemy  four  regiments  and  fifteen  ])ieces  of  artillery,  and 
their  loss,  from  inferior  position,  must  have  been  about  one  hundred. 

Being  satisfied  tliat  the  attempt  to  cross  or  to  put  down  a  |)ontoon  bridge 
was  frustrated,  if  seriously  contemplated,  and  that  the  ol)jective  point  was 
Goldsboro  and  the  railroad  bridge  there.  I  orderecl  Col.  Roilgers  uj)  from 
Kinston,  who  had  l)een  tliere  all  day  in  possession  of  the  town,  and  sent 


]Viirri:iiALi.  a\d  (ioLDsiioRo  Jin  woes.  153 

him  .111(1  Kvans's  Brigade  forward  toGoldsboro  in  haste,  and  informed  Gen. 
Smith  that  the  enemy  was  moving  np  the  river;  and  made  every  effort  to 
get  our  force  to  (ioldsl)oro.  (ien.  Pettigrew  moved  with  Burguin's  and 
Leventhorpe's  regiments  for  that  point,  leaving  a  strong  force  and  two 
guns  at  Whitehall.  The  train  tliat  took  Kodgers  did  not  return  until  about 
4  A.>i..  and  left  soon  after  with  troops.  Seeing  them  oH",  I  started  on  horse- 
back \vith  staff  and  rode  to  (ioldsboro.  and  readied  there  at  9  a.m.  and  re- 
ported to  Gen.  Smitli. 

The  guard  that  was  left  at  Mosely  Ilall  was  directed  to  take  an  account 
of  the  cotton  l>urned  there,  and  to  save  the  rope  and  bagging. 

When  1  reached  the  depot  near  Bear  Creek  I  there  found  Burguin's 
regiment  and  a  down  train.  It  Ijrought  me  an  order  from  Gen.  Smith  to 
leave  Gen.  Rol)ertson  in  command  of  the  troops  at  Whitehall  and  Spring 
Bank  bridges  to  hold  them.  Gen.  Martin  was  left  in  command  at  Mosely 
Hall.  I  have  since  learned  that  the  enemy  left  eighty  men  un buried  at 
Whitehall.  They  removed  the  wounded.  Seventy  stand  of  arms  were 
collected.  During  this  time  Gen.  Clingman,  with  his  l)rigade,  was  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  river. 

W^hen  Col.  Rodgers  was  ordered  from  Kinston  I  directed  that  the  com- 
mand of  Wallace  should  proceed  direct  to  Goldsboro  from  Greenville, 
and  not  stop  at  Kinston  to  support  Col.  Rodgers,  as  he  had  been  ordered 
away. 

In  conseijuence  of  the  movements  made,  as  has  been  stated,  the  condi- 
tion of  matters  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  was  as  follows:  Clingman 
Avas  over  the  river  on  the  right  bank  with  his  brigade  (Cantrell's,  Shaw's, 
and  Marshall's  regimentg)  and  some  artillery;  Evans,  with  his  brigade  and 
the  Mississippi  troops,  in  the  town;  Rodgei's,  near  by;  and  Burguin,  en 
route,  near  at  hand.  When  I  reached  the  town  and  reported  to  Gen.  Smith 
he  told  me  he  had  ordered,  early  in  the  morning.  Gens.  Evans  and  Cling- 
man to  make  an  armed  reconnoissance  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  For 
some  reason,  not  known  to  me,  it  never  moved  or  got  otT  until  the  enemy 
attacked  the  bridge. 

About  2:30  p.m.  I  was  informed  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  on  the 
Goldsboro  bridge  ( the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Neuse),  and  the  cannon  were 
heard  in  the  distance.  Pettigrew  started  to  join  Clingman  on  the  other 
sid(>  of  the  river.  Smith  sent  for  me  to  come  to  his  office.  I  remained 
with  liim  about  an  lioiu'.  urging  forward  troops.  Gen.  Smith  then  went 
to  the  iiotel.  for  his  sword,  coat,  etc.  When  he  returned  I  picked  up  my 
saber  and  said:  '-If  you  have  no  particular  use  for  me  hei-e,  I  shall  go  down 
to  the  field."     To  this  he  replied:   "Very  well." 

Riding  down  I  overtook  the  Hon.  W.  Dortch,  Confederate  States  Sena- 
tor, and  Gov.  Z.  Vance.  They  wished  to  show  me  some  fords  in  the  river. 
I  found  Pettigrew  examining  them  also.  I  then  galloped  on  for  the  field, 
and  found  Gen.  Smith  there.  He  had  passed  by  while  we  were  locating 
the  fords.  On  arriving  on  the  iield  I  found  most  of  our  troops  in  the  edge 
of  the  woods.  I  moved  them  across  the  field  to  the  railroad,  which  af- 
forded some  protection.  The  enemy  were  drawn  up  in  line  on  some  ris- 
ing ground  somewhat  oI)]iquel3'  to  the  railroad.     Their  right  was  about 


154  7'ii  o  U'ai.-s. 

seven  hundred  yards  distant,  anil  the  left  four  hundred.  There  \va.s  really 
but  little  tiring  except  artillery,  and  that  was  at  the  one  gun  we  brought 
on  the  field.  Evans,  on  our  left,  ordered  a  charge  over  the  oi)en  field 
toward  a  battery.  The  regiment  making  the  charge  suffered  considerably^ 
from  canister  shot,  and  as  soon  as  ])ossil)le  I  recalled  it.  It  soon  Ijecame 
ilark.  ])oth  lines  maintaining  their  positions.  Smith  now  came  over  to  the 
left,  and  called  Evans.  Pettigrew.  and  me.  with  Stevens,  engineer,  to  con- 
sult or  counsel  with  him  on  the  (piestion  of  remaining  or  withdrawing. 
All  lull  Evans  favored  crossing  back  to  camj). 

The  diary  is  too  full  of  detail  to  (juote.  AN'e  reerossed  be- 
cause the  weather  was  intensely  cold,  and  the  troops  had  no 
))Innkets  or  provisions,  and  would  be  unlit  for  service  if  they 
remained  there.  Next  morning  Foster  was  on  his  return  to 
New  Berne.  Had  Smith  seen  to  it  that  P^vans  had  crossed 
over,  and  with  Clingman's  Briofade  and  his  own  moved  as  di- 
rected, the  bridge  could  not  have  been  burned,  as  it  was,  by 
a  party  of  six  men.  Reports  said  Foster  had  eighteen  thou- 
sand men  and  eighteen  pieces  of  artillery;  we  had  nine  thou- 
sand, with  nearly  twenty  pieces  of  artillery.  The  whole  mat- 
ter was  pro))a])ly  a  demonstration  in  favor  of  Burnside  at 
Fredericks] )urg.  Our  troops  were  not  properly  handled  at 
Goldsboro. 

From  Goldsboro  I  returned  to  Petersl)in"g  on  the  24-th.  On 
January  5,  1S(5;^,  1  left  Petersbiu-g  for  AVeldon  on  account  of  in- 
formation of  an  a})prehended  attack  on  Wilmington.  The  next 
day  Gen.  G.  ^V.  Smith  arrived,  and  then  went  on  to  (loldsboro. 
On  the  l(5th  I  joiiietl  (ien.  Smith  at  Goldsboro.  Owing  to  in- 
formation received  on  the  *Jotli.  I  ordered  Cook's  Brigade  to  near 
South  AVashington,  Hansom's  to  Kent)nsville,  and  Pettigrew's 
intermediate,  to  siH)j)ort  either.  In  the  e\ening  Smith  went  to 
Wilmington.  On  the  !i7th  I  received  information  that  Gen. 
Smith  had  been  ordered  to  Kichmon<l,  and  a  dis])atch  came  for 
me  from  the  War  Department  to  rej)air  to  (ioldshoro  and  as- 
sume command  of  all  the  troops.  On  the  :!d  of  Fel)ruary  I  re- 
ceived orders  to  send  reenforcements  to  ^^'ilmington.  I  sent 
Evans's  Brigade  there.  Orders  also  came  to  convent;  a  coiu't  of 
in(|uii'v  on  (it'ii.  H\aiis.  On  llu'  stli  forces  were  sent  from  ^\'il- 
miiigton  to  Charleston,  and  on  the  isth  I  examined  the  works 
around  the  city  of  A\  ilmington  that  1  had  constructed  a  year 
ago,  and  the  next  day  visited  tlic  forts,  Fisher,  Caswell,  etc.  I 
returned  to  Pctershutir  on  the  "J.".(l.      (ien.  I).  II.  Ilill.  having  no 


OliTAISlNG  Sr /'FLIES.  155 

troops,  was  put  in  coimiiaiKl  of  those  in  North  ('arolina,  Icuvino^ 
int' SouthciMi  \'iiiiini:i.  I  t'oinul  in  Peterslnii'2: Lieut.  Gen.  Louir- 
street. 

Ill  the  sunuuci'  of  IS&J.  an  estiinal)le  clerirvinan  came  to  nie  and 
spoke  of  an  opportunity  of  ot)tainin,i»'  some  sup])lies  for  tlie 
troops  from  Norfoli\.  I  lielie\('<l  it  feasible,  and  referred  him 
to  my  eliief  (|uartermaster.  Maj.  .).  I>.  Moiay.  It  speedily  was 
])ut  into  operation,  and  the  plan  was  very  sinqile.  An  En«;'lish- 
maii,  liviiitr  some  miles  fi'oni  Sutl'olk,  haviiiof  charge  of  or  own- 
ing an  estate  on  which  he  lived,  had  ])ei'mission  to  ])ass  the  lines 
at  will,  and  had  a  iiermit  to  purchase  supplies  for  his  jilace. 
Under  this  jiermit  he  procured  for  the  reverend  gentleman  large 
supplies  of  sugar,  eottee,  clothes,  shoes,  medicines,  surgical  in- 
struments, saddler's  tools,  bacon,  etc.  One  day  at  Weldon,  or 
Halifax,  a  trunk  was  sent  to  headquarters  through  this  channel 
containing  some  coii'ee  and  the  most  costly  pair  of  boots  I  have 
ever  worn.  The  foot  was  calfskin  and  the  tops  of  morocco,  and 
came  above  the  knee.  They  Avere  worn  long  after  the  war  end- 
ed. Who  sent  them  1  do  not  know.  The  only  trouble  I  gave 
to  this  matter  of  obtaining  supplies  was  to  place  a  respectable 
and  permanent  guard  that  could  be  trusted,  to  let  the  boats  land 
with  the  supplies.*     When  I  went  to  Petersburg  the  ladies  were 

*By  this  arrangement  m}'  quartermaster,  Maj.  J.  B.  Moray,  obtained 
bacon,  sugar,  coffee,  blankets,  shoes,  cloth,  saddlers'  tools,  medical  sup- 
plies, etc.,  in  no  small  quantities.  He  also  had  hay  and  fodder  baled,  by 
sending  a  hay  press  through  the  north  counties  of  North  Carolina  to  bale 
this  forage,  and  obtain  grain.  On  the  arrival  of  Gens.  D.  H.  Hill  and  Long- 
street  it  terminated,  for  Longstreet  took  the  teams. 

The  following  letter  from  the  Hon.  James  A.  Sedden  relates  to  this  mat- 
ter: 

Wak  Depaktment,  C  S.  A.,     } 
Richmond,  February  30,  1863.  f 

Gen.  S.Ci.  Fiencli.  rommaiiiliiig,  Etc. 

(iciicral:  I  have  derived  much  satisfaction  from  your  letter  of  the  12th, 
and  am  gratified  to  see  hoAv  fully  you  have  realized  and  understand  the 
great  needs  of  our  army  on  the  Rappahannock  for  sujjplit's  of  forage  and 
subsistence,  antl  the  ditlicuhy  of  meeting  them.  The  scarcity  in  this  Slate 
is  reallj'  great,  and  without  distressing  exactions  from  the  people,  and 
mucii  consequent  sutfering,  there  is  no  pi'ospect  of  drawing  any  large  sup- 
plies from  them. 

Our  great  reliance  must  be  on  the  large  prodiu-ing  counties  of  North 
Carolina,  and,  unforlunatel}',  the  richest  are  in  the  hands  of,  or  undei' the 
control  of,  the  enemy.  Great  efforts  must  he  made  to  dravv  all  that  can 
forced  or  tempteil  from  that  quarter,  and  there  can  be  no  better  emi)loy- 
ment  of  our  forces  in  North  Carolina  than  in  protecting  and  aiding  such 
operations.     Even  illicit  dealings  with  persons  of  doul)tful  position,  or 


156  T\s<i  Wahs. 

somewhat  "'slipshod.'"  for  no  hidies'  shoes,  toothbrushes,  pins, 
needles,  or  materials  tor  dresses  were  for  sale.  Throiiirh  re- 
si)eetable  men  "runnino:  the  ))l()ckade,"  I  had  the  town  supplied. 
All  that  I  required  of  these  men  was  tiiat  they  should  l)rin2'  a 
few  necessary  articles  for  the  government,  then  as  much  as  they 
wished  for  sale,  ))ut  the  invoice  must  be  sul)mitted  to  the  quarter- 
master to  see  if  there  were  any  other  thinos  useful  for  the  army. 

There  was  a  large,  tall  woman  named  ,Johnston  l)y  whom 
hun(h-eds  of  letters,  with  money  in  them,  were  sent  by  soldiers 
to  their  families  in  that  i)art  of  Virginia,  and  in  return  she 
brought  letters  to  Confe<lerate  soldiers.  1  detailed  an  intelli- 
gent man  to  read  all  letters  going  out  and  returning  ])y  the 
blockade  runners;  all  letters,  too,  going  north  by,  or  received 
from,  the  tiag  of  truce  boats  were  examined  before  being  deliv- 
ered to  the  persons  addressed.  Only  a  few  of  these  letters  were 
referred  to  me.  I  never  doubted  Mrs.  ,Johnston's  integrity,  but 
some  of  my  staff  endeavored  to  have  me  })elieve  she  was  a  spy 
on  both  sides.  She  always  told  me  the  truth  about  the  enemy, 
for  I  could  see  it  corroborated  by  the  testimony  of  others.  One 
time  she  was  gone  about  six  weeks,  then  returned  and  said  Gen. 
Viel6  had  put  a  guard  over  her  house  in  Norfolk  and  kept  her  a 
prisoner.  When  some  years  afterwards  I  met  (len.  Viel6  in  New 
York  he  told  me  he  could  do  nothing  with  her,  she  defied  him. 
and  he  kept  her  at  home  that  while.  She  gave  him  no  truthful 
information,  but  was  faithful  in  her  reports  to  us. 

There  was  a  girl  living  in  N(n-folk  that  wanted  to  cross  the 
lines  and  go  to  Richmond.  Three  prominent  citizens,  separate- 
ly, informed  me  that  she  was  a  spy.  Gen.  A.  A.  Pettigrew,  on 
the  Blackwater,  received  like  information,  and  asked  meforin- 
.structions.  I  wrote:  "  Let  her  come,  but  send  an  othcer  to  watch 
her."  She  arrived  by  train,  in  com])any  with  a  "" roach-backed"' 
looking  w(mian  with  a  child  in  her  arms,  and  went  to  the  hotel. 
I  directed  the  city  marshal  to  arrest  her  if  she  attempt  to  leave 
for  Richmond,  and  he  arrested  her  at  the  Riclnuoud  dc])ot  the 
next  morning  and  brought  her  to  me.     She  swore  she  was  a  true 

iiiercciiMry  natiiivs.  miji:ht  be  eiieoui'affcd  to  the  extent  of  ])r()curiiit>;  sii])- 
plie.s.  ])!irticiilarly  of  meat.  Hut  with  the  clear  views  and  cDnvieliDns  yon 
nave  on  this  whole  snl)ject  it  is  unnecessary  to  urge  the  a(lo])tion  of  spe- 
cial means.  You  Avill.  1  douht  not.  adopt  all  that  can  he  made  a\ailable. 
and  in  so  d(iing  you  will  have  the  sanction  of  tlie  department. 

Very  truly  yours.  James  A.  Seduon,  Becrdarij  of  ]]'ar. 


SiDXKY  Lanikh.  157 

woiiiun  to  llu'  ("()iit'c(l(M';icy.  lluil  she  had  a  hrollier  in  tlie  serv- 
ice. I  asked  her  how  slie  left  Suttolk.  She  dechired  she  passed 
the  Federal  lines  with  the  woman  now  with  her,  who  had  a  pass 
for  tW'O  persons,  that  she  hroiiirht  the  woman  and  child  alonor 
with  her  lest  the  woman  should  he  imprisoned  for  aiding  her 
over  the  line  of  pickets,  etc.  Then  I  read  to  her  several  letters 
informintj  me  "Fannie  Cooper  left  this  mornino^  in  a  carriage 
with  a  Yankee  otiicer  to  go  to  Richmond."  She  denied  it  all. 
I  told  her  she  would  have  to  go  to  Salisbury  a  prisoner  until  I 
could  in(iuire  into  her  case  further.  She  l)egged  not  to  he  im- 
prisoned there,  so  I  sent  her  hack  to  Gen.  Pettigrew,  command- 
ing on  the  Black  water,  to  have  her  sent  hack  to  her  home.  Now, 
during  the  siege  of  Sutiolk,  many  persons  told  me  that  ''she 
(hd  go  out  of  Siitfolk  in  the  carriage  with  an  officer,"  etc.  In 
18()6  she  wrote  me  a  letter  declaring  all  I  heard  al)ont.  her  was 
false,  and  wishing  me  all  sorts  of  l)ad  things.  All  in  all  it  would 
have  been  an  interesting  case  for  Sherlock  Holmes. 

Petersburg  was  under  martial  law%  and  to  keep  the  city  in  peace 
and  order  was  no  small  task.  ]Men  who  were  regarded  respect- 
able would  sell  liquor  to  the  soldiers.  To  tine  the  ofienders 
was  useless.  To  end  it,  the  suggestion  was  made  that  a  court- 
martial  should  condemn  the  next  ottender  to  have  his  head  shaved 
and  wear  a  ''  l)arrel  shirt,"  and  be  marched  through  the  city  two 
hours  every  day  for  ten  days.  That  ended  selling  whisky.  How 
would  a  dude  look  with  his  head  shaved  and  ])rotrudiug  through 
a  hole  in  the  head  of  a  ])arreH  Would  the  sun  atfect  lus  in- 
tellects The  doctors  reported  that  no  ordinary  person  could 
endure  it,  so  I  remitted  a  part  of  the  sentence. 

One  day  the  provost  marshal  arrested  a  blockade  runner  for 
not  obeying  his  instructions.  His  goods  were  placed  in  a  rented 
store,  and  J.  A.  Shingleur,  of  Columbus,  (la.,  and  Sidney  La- 
nier, of  my  signal  corps,  were  detailed  to  sell  them.  The  money- 
was  deposited  in  l)ank  to  my  oi'der.  After  the  war  was  ended 
I  gave  the  owner  the  funds.  I  have  often  wondered  if  that  (juiet, 
gentle  soldier-i)oet  rememl)ered  his  experience  as  a  merchant  in 
Petersburg;!  Often  he  and  a  friend  would  come  to  my  fiuarters 
and  pass  the  evening  with  us,  where  the  ''alarums  of  war"  were 
lost  in  the  soft  notes  of  thcii-  flutes,  for  Lanier  was  an  excellent 
musician.  T  l)elieve  his  cantata  was  sung  at  the  opening  of  the 
World's  Exposition  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1S7B. 


158  TTf'o  Wahs. 

Another  duty  was  the  exchanofe  of  prisoners  on  arrival  at  City 
Point  of  tlie  flajj:  of  truce  steamer.  Our  men  were  sent  out  to  a 
camp  1  had,  and  thence  to  their  commands.  I  never  went  to  the 
fla^  of  truce  ))oat  in  ail  this  wiiile  hut  onci'.  and  then  I  did  not 
2fo  aboai'd  of  her.  I  (hsmounted  and  took  a  seat  on  a  l»ox.  All 
was  (juiet.  The  stacring  f rom  the  main  deck  rested  on  the  wharf. 
On  this  deck,  by  the  staginof.  were  posted  two  soldiers  with  arms 
agi'ound.  On  tlie  upper  deck  were  three  or  four  Tnited  States 
soldiers.  Their  clothing  was  clean,  neat,  and  new.  and  they 
wore  unsoiled  white  cotton  gloves.  The  wiiarf  was  guarded  by 
a  lone  Confederate  soldier.  On  his  head  was  a  straw  hat,  his 
raiment  wa?<  butternut  in  color,  his  shoes  were  low-quartered, 
his  hair  and  beard  long.  In  countenance  he  was  dignilied,  and 
his  eye  bi'ight.  To  protect  himself  from  the  cold  north  wind,  a 
brown  blanket  was  tied,  or  pinned,  in  front  around  his  neck, 
and  as  he  turned  to  the  north,  pacing  to  and  fro  in  front  of  the 
stage,  his  Idanket  would  swing  now  east,  now  Avest,  and  on  re- 
turning wrap  him  in  its  folds.  He  heeded  not  the  neat  clad  en- 
emy on  the  steamer,  but  walked  his  post  with  the  conscious  con- 
viction that  he  was  their  peer  in  every  walk  of  life.  None  of 
the  soldiers  leaning  over  the  railing  and  looking  down  on  him 
were  commenting  on  his  garb,  or  laughing  at  him.  Battle  had 
taught  them  to  respect  him.  Still  tiie  contrast  in  clothing  and 
comf(»i1  was  markeil. 


CHAPTER  XIL 

Telegram  from  Si'cretary  of  War — Go  to  Richmond — Declined  Going  to 
Vicksburg— Gen.  Longstreet— He  Starts  for  Suffolk — Suffolk— Capture 
of  a  Fort  and  Garrison — No  Report  Made  of  the  Capture — Statement  of 
Lieut.  (Jeorge  Reese — Longstreet  Ordered  to  Join  Lee— Dispatches- 
Battle  of  Chancellorsville— Withdraw  from  Suffolk — An  Imperrinent 
Note — Court  of  Infpiirv  Asked  for  and  Refused — Possil)le  R»!sult  Had 
Longstreet  ()l)eyed  Orders  — Tc??  Dispatches  to  Longstreet— Orders  to 
Report  to  (ien.  Johnston. 

OX  March  1,  18()3,  I  received  a  telegram  from  the  Secretary 
of  War  statincr  that  he  wished  to  see  me  in  regard  to  a 
change  of  service.  The  day  following  I  called  at  the  office  of 
the  Secretary,  Hon.  ,1.  A.  Seddon,  and  he  expressed  a  desire  that 
I  would  go  to  the  city  of  Vickslnirg  to  assist  in  the  defense  of 
that  |)lace,  I  did  not  give  my  assent,  preferring  to  consider  the 
matter.  On  the  'M  I  rode  around  the  line  of  defensive  works 
that  I  had  constructed  around  Petersburg  with  Gen.  Longstreet, 
and  did  not  get  back  until  '^  p.ivi. 

I  have  already  stated  that  on  my  return  from  Wilmington  on 
the  23d  of  February,  1863,  T  found  Gen.  Longstreet  in  Peters- 
burg in  command  of  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Hood  and  Pickett. 
'I'he  main  object  of  his  coming  was  to  provision  his  troops  and 
forage  his  animals  (until  active  service  commenced  requiring  him 
to  join  Gen.  Lee  or  otherwise)  from  the  supplies  in  the  adjoin- 
ing counties  of  Virginia  and  the  counties  of  North  Carolina  in 
the  northeastern  portion  of  the  State,  and  he  in  readiness  to  join 
Gen.  Lee  promptly,  which  he  said  was  arranged  before  he  left 
Fredericksburg.     (See  Longstreet's  "Memoirs,"  page  329.) 

That  the  trains  might  move  in  safety,  it  was  necessary  to  con- 
fine the  Federal  forces  in  tlu;  works  around  Suti'olk  and  Norfolk. 
Accordingly  about  the  middle  of  April  Longstreet  moved  with 
his  two  divisions  and  one  of  mine  on  Sutl'olk.  The  approach  of 
our  troops  was  not  discovered  until  the  advance  was  in  open 
view  of  the  defenses  around  the  city.  Their  pickets  were  quiet- 
ly captured,  and  the  lookout  sentinel  in  an  o])servatory  on  a 
platform  in  the  top  of  a  large  pine  tree  in  front  of  the  city 
anight  have  been  captured  also  had  it  not  Ix'cn  for  the  desii'c  of 


160  Two  Wars. 

one  of  the  Confederates  to  take  a  shot  at  him  while  he  was  in  the- 
top.  hefore  any  one  had  l)een  sent  near  the  l)ase  of  the  pine.  The 
man  eanie  down  as  lively  as  a  sciuirrei.  and  the  alarm  was<riven. 

The  cireumvallation  of  the  eity,  in  part,  was  made  by  Pickett's 
division  on  the  riofht,  mine  in  the  eenter.  and  Hood's  on  tlie  left, 
and  thus  the  siege  of  Sutt'olk  l)egan. 

When  Gen.  Longstreet  had  been  in  Fetersbm-o:  some  time,  he 
said  to  me  one  day  that  he  purposed  to  attack  Suffolk  after  liis 
preparations  were  made,  and  to  take  the  trains  and  send  them 
(low  11  into  the  seaboard  counties  for  provisions. 

The  next  tiiintr  T  knew,  A})ril  i»,  lie  put  his  eommand  in  mo- 
tion, and  took  from  me  a  division  and  a  number  of  batteries,  and 
was  on  his  way  to  Suffolk  without  informing  me  in  any  way  of 
his  designs,  or  of  his  wishes.*  The  next  day  I  put  a  staff'  offi- 
cer in  charge  of  the  department  headquarters,  and  with  my  other 
staff'  officers  rode  to  Suffolk  and  took  command  of  my  own  troops 
there  that  had  l)een  removed  without  sending  the  order  through 
my  office  as  courtesy  required.  No  doubt  the  ol)ject  of  such 
proceedings  was  to  give  the  command  of  a  division  to  (ien.  M. 
flenkins.  a  worthy  and  gallant  officer,  who  had  distinguished 
himself  in  the  seven  days'  ffght  around  Richmond.  On  the 
morning  of  the  18th  I  took  command  of  my  own  troops,  the  liri- 
gades  of  Pettigrew,  Jenkins,  and  Davis,  and  my  l)atteries.  I 
found  Gen.  Longstreet  down  near  the  front,  where  there  was 
considerable  artillery  firing  and  skirmishing  on  the  advanced 
line.  Longstreet  asked  me  to  accept  the  command  of  all  the  ar- 
tillery, which  1  refused  to  do.  I  told  him  I  did  not  intend  to  give 
up  the  command  of  my  division  to  any  one,  l)ut  that  I  was  willing 
to  give  all  the  assistance  I  could,  personally  and  through  the 

*Tliis  was  a  violation  of  niilitai-y  usages  tlial  l)otli  (iciis.  Andrew  .Jack- 
son and  Z.  Taylor  denounced.  Hen;  is  an  e\li-aet  from  ihe  order  of  (ien. 
Jackson : 

Heaih^haktkks  Division  ok  tiiio  South.  } 
Nasiivillk,  April  22.  1817.  f 

'J'hc  ooinniandinj?  (jeneral   i-onsiders   it    due    to   the    ])rinciples  which 
oufjht  and  must  exist  in  an  army  to  prohibit  the  olnulienee  of  any  order 
enianatinff  from  the  /)<ji(irt))i('n(  of  W((?'  to  ollicersof  tliis  division 
unless  c<)minff  ihrouirli  liim  as  the  j)roper  orjjan  of  eommiuiication.     The 
ofjjeet  of  tills  is  t(;  pri'vent  the  recurrence,  etc. 

Here  we  see  Jackson  forbitlding  obetlienee  to  any  order  to  troojjs  or  of- 
ficer in  his  eommand  uidess  it  was  (••tmmunicated  to  him  lirsl  for  his  ac 
tion. 


SrinniiLixc  Guss.  161 

chief  of  my  aitillci  v,  to  ])l;i('e  in  i)ositioii  ivims  to  })rc'\('iit  u'lm- 
t)oats  o-()iiit>-  ii})  and  down  the  ri\'er;  and,  althouirli  iiiv  diaiv  docs 
not  mention  it,  all  the  artillery  was  ordered  to  report  t(»  me.  1 
assio'iied  all  the  hatteries  ))elon^ing  to  them  to  the  conuinind  of 
the  rcKpcrflr,'  <lir!.sions^  and  thus  it  was  scattered  aloii^r  the  line 
for  several  miles,  leavino^  iiie  some  sjiare  hattci'ics  and  a  few 
siege  trims  in  charge  of  my  chief  of  artillery.  1)111  I  will  copy 
from  my  diary: 

Tuesday,  14tli.  Heavy  skiniiishinn':  rode  to  Pickell's  Divisii)ii  iiiul  to 
the  exti'eme  right  of  the  line,  and  met  Gen.  Arnistead  there. 

Wednesday,  15th.  Started  down  the  river  witli  some  artillery  to  en- 
deavor to  destroy  tl;e  gunboats:  found  l)Ul  one  in  the  rivei',  and  it  was  too 
far  below.  After  getting  guns  in  ])osition  withdrew  tiiem.  Day  very 
rainy. 

Thursday,  10th.  Rode  down  the  river  anil  examined  it  for  positions  for 
defen.se:  met  Longstreet  at  Mr.  Riddiek's  place;  then  went  to  Mr.  Le 
Comple's  Innise.  We  were  invited  to  stay  for  dinner,  but  before  it  was 
ready  a  gunl)oat  opened  fire  on  the  house  wliile  we  were  resting  in  the 
yard  beliind  it  and  while  the  family  were  in  it.  After  the  second  shot, 
which  went  through  it.  we  rode  out  into  the  field  by  the  side  of  the  house 
in  open  sight.  They  did  not  fire  at  us  (myself  and  four  of  my  staff),  but 
all  the  while  continued  tlie  attack  on  the  dwelling,  and  over  tlie  heads  of 
the  little  children,  who  were  on  the  lawn  in  front  waving  white  liand- 
kerchiefs.  The  dwelling  was  l)uilt  of  brick,  and  was  riddled  with  large 
holes.  The  wonder  to  me  was  how  the  children  escaped.  As  we  were 
leaving  the  field  and  the  doctor  had  his  hands  on  the  latch  of  the  gate  to 
open  it.  it  was  opened  by  a  three-hundred-pound  shell  striking  the  post 
that  the  gate  was  hung  to,  demolishing  it. 

17th.  Last  night  I  gave  my  consent  that  two  guns  from  Stribbling's 
battery  I)e  put  in  an  old  work  that  was  to  be  garrisoned  In'  two  compa- 
nies of  Gen.  Law"s  Brigade,  and  some  guns  from  Martin's  battery  were 
put  in  another  work.  A  gunljoat  cam(^  up  and  opened  Hre  on  the  fort 
where  the  two  Alal)ama  companies  were,  without  damage. 

I8tli.  Passed  all  day  down  the  river.  Got  the  two  thirty-two  ])ound- 
ers  in  position,  ready  to  open  to-morrow. 

llHh.  'Hiis  forenoon  th(^  gunboats  came  u)),  and  the  thirty-two  jjound- 
ei'  tired  on  tiieni  and  di^jve  tlieni  liaek.  They  were  also  attacked  by  some 
sh;irpshooters. 

Just  before  sunset  Ibe  gunboats  and  several  batteries  of  artillery 
opened  a  very  scvei'c  cross  lire*  on  the  fort  and  over  the  plain  in  the  rear 
of  the  fort,  where  tiie  two  guns  from  Stribl)ling"s  battery  had  been  placed 
to  aid  the  garrison.  Pending  this  attack  the  enemy  landed  a  strong  in- 
fantry foi'ce,  under  cover  of  some  timber,  on  our  side  of  the  river,  cai'- 
ried  the  place  l)y  a  sutlden  assault,  and  captured  the  garrison,  consisting 
of  Companies  A  and  R.  Forty-Fourth  AlalKima  R(>giment,  and  a  squad  of 
artillerymen. 
11 


162  Tiro   ]\'ai.-s. 

I  heard  the  distant  firino-  about  sunset,  and  at  9  p.m.  I  heard  in  camp 
that  one  of  the  forts  in  Hood's  command  had  l)een  captured.  1  went  over 
to  i.oiiiist  reefs  lieadciuarters,  and  he  asked  me  to  go  down  and  take  com- 
mand. On  arrival  I  found  on  the  ground  there  Gens.  Hood  and  Law 
with  Robertson's  Brigade  and  Connelly's  Fifty-Fifth  North  Carolina  Reg- 
iment, and  took  command  as  I  was  ordered.  The  Fifty-Fifth  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment  was  advanced,  but  it  wasdi-i\('ii  liack  in  the  darkness  by 
the  cross  tire  of  the  gunboats  and  the  enemy  in  the  cai)turetl  works.  It 
was  so  plain  to  any  cMie  who  had  a  knowledge  of  the  art  of  war  that  the 
enemy  would  not  hold  an  isolated  work  on  our  side  of  the  river,  that  I 
was  not  inclined  to  make  an  assault  which  would  have  sacriliced  so  many 
lives  uselessly.     Yet  such  was  the  order  gi\('n  by  Longstreel. 

20th.  Remained  in  position  till  morning.  Avhen  l^ongstrecl  arriveil. 
Botli  Gens.  Hood  and  Law  strenuously  insisted  that  no  attack  should  be 
made  to  capture  the  works  while  the  troops  would  be  subjected  to  the 
severe  cross  fire  oxer  the  neck  of  land  from  the  enemy's  fleet  of  vessels 
and  the  troo])S  in  the  redoul)t  and  artillei-y  opposite  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river. 

At  1  I'.M.  I  turned  the  command  over  to  Hood,  or  ratlier  left  him  in 
command  of  his  own  trooi)s,  advising  him  to  wait  and  lei  the  enemy 
abandon  the  ])lace.  which  they  did.  Soon  after  this  Ca])t.  Cnssoiis.  com- 
mander of  Law's  scouts,  with  a  few  men  and  a  loud  ••yell."  ran  in  the 
enemy's  pickets,  and  entered  the  works  with  them.  They  went  on  out. 
and  left  Cussons  to  hold  the  empty  fort. 

22d.  If  that  redoubt,  which  gave  support  to  our  left  llaid<  (that  other- 
wise would  have  been  "in  air"),  was  worth  a  great  sacrilice  of  life  to  re- 
capture it.  as  ordered  by  Longstreet,  then  certainly  it  was  in  accord  with 
the  science  of  war  to  place  two  guns  on  the  works  to  strengthen  and  ]n-o- 
tect  the  left  tlank  of  his  army.* 

-Long-Street  reitei-Htes  the  story  of  tlie  capture  of  tlie  tiattery  in  his  twol?,  but  is  silent 
about  the  garrison  or  the  Ciipture  of  the  redoulit.  Therefore  I  will  append  a  gtatenu-nt 
handed  to  me  l\v  George  Reese,  an  honored  oiti/.en  of  Pensaeola,  Fla.  My  aeeount  i.«  from 
my  diary;  his  is  from  memory.    He  writes: 

"I  was  a  lieutenant  in  Company  A,  Forty-l'"ourth  Alabama  Infantry.  Law's  Brigade. 
Hood's  Division,  Long.'^treet's  Corps,  and  was  with  my  command  at  the  investment  of  Suf- 
folk in  181)3.  On  the  18th  day  of  April,  while  in  line,  Companies  A  and  K  received  orders, 
al)out  8  r.M.,  to  move.  I  think  we  numbered  fifty  men,  all  told.  We  were  marched  about 
two  miles  to  the  left  of  Longstreet's  army. 

We  arrived  at  an  old  fort,  or  rather  redoubt,  exposed  on  the  land  side,  but  protected  by 
a  high  embankment  on  the  river  side.  In  thi.s  fort  we  found  two  gun-;  of  Stribbling's  bat- 
tery, with  their  complement  of  gunners.  This  whole  force,  with  the  two  guns,  «ascai)tured 
on  the  I'Jth  of  April,  near  G  p.m.  About  1  i'.m.  the  enemy  opened  a  lerrific  tire  on  the  fort 
from  a  great  number  of  guns  massed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  and  from  the  uun- 
boats  and  infantry.  ITuder  cover  of  this  fire  a  transport  landed  about  a  thousand  men  Ije- 
hind  a  point  of  land  extending  into  the  river  jusi  above  the  fort,  concealed  by  thick  under- 
growth. They  were  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  fort  when  discovered.  It  was  natu- 
ral that  the  infantry  should  blame  Gen.  Longstrent  for  thus  placing  so  small  a  force  so  far 
away  from  support,  and  loud  omplaints  were  heard  from  both  men  and  officers.  We 
were  taken  to  Suffolk  the  same  night  and  next  morning  to  Norfolk,  an  I  two  weeks  after 
exchanged.  (iKoRiii:  Reksk,  Lieut.  Co  A,  Fortii-F-'i'ril.  Air,i„<,„ii 

•■  Pcin.-icoln,  riii..  Mun-h  IMI7.' 


Sruf/inLiXd  (tL'xs.  103 

I  ;mi  lii-cil  of  rohnitecriiig  against  gunboats  any  more,  and  declined  liav- 
ing  iuiytliiiig  lo  do  with  the  line  dctended  l)v  Gen.  Hood  because  of  a 
eoninuinieation  received  fi-om  the  general  eoinnianding  saying  I  was  "in 
charge  of  the  river  defenses."  To  have  charge  of  the  river  defenses  in- 
volves more  or  less  the  commantl  of  all  the  army.  I  really  had  otlicially 
nothing  to  do  with  the  river  defen.scs.  only  I  ro/imtarily  plarci/  two  large 
siege  guns  in  position  to  be  used  in  attacking  any  boats  passing  up  or 
down  the  river.     ("onnally"s  Regiment  was  a  support  for  these  two  guns. 

23(1.  ("oiilined  m^yself  to  the  immetliate  command  of  my  division,  and 
toi>k  no  more  intei'cst  in  Hood's  iin(>,  and  ordered  C!onnally"s  Regiment  to 
join  his  brigade. 

24th  and  3oth.     There  was  some  skirmishing. 

26th.  Rode  down  with  Gen.  Ijongstreet  to  the  VVhitemarsh  road. 
Gone  all  day.     The  line  there  is  commamled  l)y  Gen.  Armstead. 

And  now  come  the  Richmond  papers  proclaiming:  "From  Suffolk — 
Gen.  French  lost  Stribbling's  battery."  Mark  you,  no  mention  of  the  cap- 
ture of  the/art;  no  mentiim  of  the  capture  of  the  two  cojupauics  that  gar- 
risoned it.  It  would  not  do  to  have  it  reported  that  the  Yankees  cros.sed 
the  Nansemond  yesterday  and  ca])tux'ed  a  fort  on  our  side  of  the  river  by 
assault.  The  garrison,  composed  of  two  companies  of  the  Forty-Fourth 
Alabama  Regiment  of  Law's  Brigade,  Hood's  Division,  were  taken  prison- 
ers and  the  two  guns  were  lost.  But  it  will  not  do  to  let  this  be  known. 
No,  no:  write  it  down  thus:  "  Yesterday  Gen.  French  lost  Stribbling's  bat- 
tery." The  world  is  too  busy  to  inquire,  and  the  world  will  believe  it. 
The  truth  is,  I  was  never  in  the  fort.  7iever  saw  it.  I  had  no  authority 
over  the  garrison,  and  I  was  in  no  way  rcsponsil)le  for  the  loss  of  the  re- 
doubt, the  garrison,  or  guns. 

The  most  remarkable  feature  of  tins  little  affair  is  the  per- 
sistency with  which  headquarters  proclaimed  that  "French  lost 
Strililiug's  battery,"  and  were  silent  about  the  infantry  garrison 
captured,  etc.  I  will  give  two  letters  here  from  the  War  Rec- 
ords: 

Heai)Quaktek,s  Near  Suffolk,  April  31,  1868. 

-Muj.  Gen.  I).  H.  Hill,  (iolrlshciro. 

Gen.  Longstreet  is  closely  engaged  to-night,  and  he  has  askctl  me  to 
write  you  briefly  the  particulars  of  the  affair  of  Sunday  night  which  re- 
sulted in  the  capture  by  the  enemy  of  Stribbling's  battery.  Several  Ijat- 
teries  had  been  planted  on  the  Nansemond  to  hold  the  river  against  the 
passage  of  gunboats  and  transports.  Stribbling's  occupied  an  old  unin- 
closed  work  on  Hill's  Point,  a  tongue  of  land  a  little  above  the  continence 
of  Western  Branch  and  Nansemond.  About  dark  on  the  evening  of  the 
l!»th  the  enemy  o))ened  a  severe  fire  from  his  field  batteries  planted  oppo- 
site, and  his  gunboats  above  and  below  the  fort,  entirely  sweeping  with  a 
cross  lire  the  plain  in  the  rear  of  the  work.     Under  cover  of  this  tii"6  and 


1()4  Two  ll'.iRs, 

darkness  they  lauded  a  force,  not  more  than  one  hundred  and  iift\'  strong, 
a  very  little  distance  from  the  fort,  rushed  upon  its  rear,  and  surprised 
and  captured  its  garrison. 

The  artillery  on  the  river  was  directly  under  the  management  of  Maj. 
Gen.  French.  There  were  five  guns,  fifty-five  artillerists,  and  seventy  in- 
fantry (sharpshooters)  in  the  fort,  whicli  all  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  en- 
emy. 

The  affair  is  regarded  as  a  luost  remarkal)le  and  discredital)le  instance 
of  an  entire  absence  of  vigilance.  A  regiment  (Fifty-Fifth  North  Caroli- 
na and  seven  hundred  strong)  which  Gen.  Longstreet  had  particularly  or- 
dered to  the  vicinit}'  for  the  protection  of  the  battery  Avas  not  posted  in 
supporting  distance.  No  official  report  of  the  affair  has  yet  been  received 
from  Gen.  French.  The  captured  guns  were  carried  across  the  river.  It 
is  some  consolation  that  oiil/j  the  guns  and  ammunition  chests  were  lost. 
The  horses  and  ammunition  carriages,  being  considerably  in  the  rear  of 
the  battery,  were  saved.  We  areotherwi.se  ijuite  comfortable  here.  The 
quartermasters  and  commissaries  are  actively  engaged  in  getting  oiu  sup- 
plies. 

1  ain.  General.  ver\'  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

G.  M.  SoKKKL,  ^IssisUoit  Adjutant  (ioieral.- 

This  letter  comes  from  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Lonsfstreet. 
and  slioiild  lie  a  careful  account;  whereas  it  contains  errors  in 
stating'  occurrences  well  known  at  the  time  it  was  written.  I 
will  point  out  some  of  the  errors: 

1.  Only  a  snuill  part  of  Stribhlino^'s  battery  was  captured  hv^ 
the  enemy. 

2.  Stribblinof's  battery  was  not  in  the  redoubt,  as  stated,  in 
numbers. 

?).  The  estimate  that  the  enemy's  force  was  not  oxer  one  hun- 
(h-ed  and  fifty  ditiers  very  nuu-h  from  that  of  Lieut,  (ieorire 
Reese,  who  was  an  olticer  of  one  of  the  conn)anies  forming'  the 
ofarrison  that  was  captiu'ccl.  who  writes  it  was  near  one  thou- 
sand. 

4.  "The  artillery  on  the  ri\('r  was  directly  imdcr  the  command 
of  Maj.  (Jen.  French"  is  an  error,  as  I  declined  it  the  day  of  my 
arri^•al,  only  I  voluntarily  offered  to  assist  in  checkini:"  the  o-un- 
boats  passin<j:  u])  or  down  the  i'i\er. 

5.  It  states  that  ^' there  were  /^'/v  </////.*-•,  tifty-tivc  artillerists, 
and  seventy  infantry  ca})tured  by  the  enemy:"  whereas  it  was 
known  to  the  entire  army  by  the  21st,  the  date  of  this  letter, 
that  oidy  in'o  (jitns  <in<l  (ihniif  (  'KjJitci'ii.  (trt'illtrixix  were  lost  when 

*See  Vol.  LI.,  Part  11.  Serial  No.  108,  War  Records,  page  692. 


N  Timuii.  ISC 's  G  rxs.  1 H;") 

tlic  redouht  fell  hy  llic  (•a|)tiiit'  of  tlie  irarrison.  No  hoi-.^cs. 
caissons,  lianicss,  for_i>c.  etc.,  wcie  in  the  foit.  They  were  in 
eanip. 

(i.  (icn.  Lonirstreet  (lid  not  })artieiiiarly  order  the  Fifty-Fit'th 
North  ('aroh"iia  Ke.ofiinent  to  that  vicinity  for  the  protection  of 
the  battery.  It  was  one  of  the  reofiments  of  my  command,  and  I 
sent  it  down  to  sii|)])oi1  t  wo  tiiirty-two-poiuiders  that  Col.  C'un- 
ninofham  had  mounted  at  a  place  we  had  selected  farther  down 
the  river.  Tho  "  jn'otection "  to  the  two  guns  at  the  fort  ira.s 
f/ir  (j((fi-!s<)n  Hood  sent  fo  till'  fort  and  such  other  as  he  directed. 
The  better  ex])lanation  is,  the  guns  were  asked  of  me  to  aid  the 
garrison. 

T.  The  statement  that  "no  ofiieial  report  of  theaftair  has  yet 
been  received  from  Gen.  French""  is  misleading,  and  a  report 
from  me  would  have  ])een  supererogatory.  The  report  of  that 
"aliair"  was  strictly  a  matter  between  the  general  commanding 
and  Gen.  Hood,  who  commanded  the  division  and  placed  the 
garrison  in  the  fort  to  protect  his  extreme  left,  then  "in  air." 

S.  When  head(}uarters  announced  that  ''it  was  some  little 
consolation  that  only  five  guns  and  ammvmition  chests  were 
lost,"  it  may  have  ])een  joyous  that  onh/  the  garrison  was  lost 
instead  of  the  whole  of  Hood's  Division,  of  which  it  formed  a 
part. 

!».  I  must  give  (xen.  Longstreet's  adjutant  general  the  manli- 
ness to  be  the  only  oflicer  in  Longstreet's  Corps  who  has,  in  any 
manner  or  form,  put  on  record  the  fact,  directly  or  indirectly, 
that  there  was  a  garrison  placed  in  that  redoubt  by  order  of 
Longstreet,  or  Hood,  or  l)oth,  and  it  was  captured  by  the  en- 
emy, and  with  the  garrison  went  the  two  guns.  To  the  world 
has  the  ])ublicati()n  gone  that  Gen,  French  lost  Stribbling's  l)at- 
tery. 

1<».  If  it  be  creditable  for  headquarters  to  publish  that  "this 
attair  is  regarded  as  a  most  remarkable  and  discredital)le  instance 
of  an  entire  uhsence  of  vigilance  "  on  my  part,  then  I  claim  it  is 
proper  for  me  to  remark  that  this  etiusion  from  the  head  of  this 
army  may  be  also  "regarded  as  a  most  remarkable  and  discred- 
itable instance  of  an  entire  ahseinx  oi  correctness  in  stating  that 
ati'air." 

There  was  no  doui)t  a  want  of  vigilance:  and  if  Gen.  Long- 
street  had  desired,  he  could  have  learned  whether  the  connnander 


166  Two  Wars. 

of  the  garrison  ])ut  out  pickets  or  not.  lie  t-ould  lia\i'  asi-ci- 
tained  tr/iat  orde/s  were  given  the  oomniander  1)V  his  (.olonel,  or 
Gen.  Law,  or  by  Gen.  Hood,  and  tixed  the  responsibility  wliere 
it  Ijelouged.  Who  put  the  garrison  there,  and  what  instruc- 
tions were  given  the  commander?  embraces  the  (luestion.  He 
says  he  "particularly  ordered  Col.  Connally's  regiment  there 
himself  for  the  protection  of  this  battery,"  which  is  an  error. 

Like  the  ghost  of  Banquo.  Stribbling's  battery  rises  up  again 
at  headquarters  and  will  not  out. 

Heac^i  AUTEHS  jNeak  SiFKOEK.  X\n-\\  20.  1S(>;^.  7  I'.M. 
Brig.  Gen.  H.  L   Benning,  Commanding  Brigade. 

YolU'  communication  of  3  a.m.  to-daj'  has  lieen  received.  .  .  .  The 
cannonade  that  j'ou  heard  last  night  arose  from  a  successful  effort  of  the 
enemy  to  capture  one  of  our  batteries  on  the  river.  Under  cover  of  dark- 
ness and  the  fire  of  his  gunboats  and  land  batteries  he  landed  a  force  near 
Hill's  Point,  and  took  possession  of  Stribbliny's  battery  by  n  surprise. 
I  am,  General,  verj'  respectfully  your  obedient  servant. 

(i.  M.  SoHHEi..  Assistant  Jd/N/ant  Gcnerat.* 

I  now  will  continue  my  diary: 

27th,  28th.  and  29th.  Passed  most  of  the  day  examining  the  line  be- 
tween my  right  and  Gen.  Garnett.  Reported  to  Gen.  Longstreet.  .Spoke's 
Run  is  no  barrier  to  infantry.  To-day,  the  29th,  orders  came  for  (!<ii. 
Longstreet  to  join  Gen.  Lee  immediately .  He  sent  for  m(>  and  told  me  he 
was  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Lee  with  his  tiro  ifivisions;  but  that  he  could  not 
go.  as  his  wagons  sent  for  supplies  had  not  returned.  I  made  no  I'eply.  but 
thought  it  strange,  considering  all  the  (•onii)any  wagons,  etc..  he  required 
to  move  were  in  the  camp. 

80th.  "Waiting  for  the  wagons  "  is  still  the  song.  Terribk'  thuiitlcr- 
storm.     Lightning  injured  a  number  of  men. 

Friday,  May  1.  This  afternoon  about  4  p.m.  the  enemy  was  found  in 
line  of  battle.  One  regiment,  said  to  have  been  the  Fifty-Ninth  New  York, 
advanced  on  my  picket  lines  and  were  handsomely  repulsed  by  Col.  Con- 
nally's  regiment.  In  supporting  his  men  in  the  pits  he  lost  ten  men.  The 
enemy  shelled  the  plain  furiously  for  an  hour  and  a  half  in  ray  frtml. 
Courier  came  and  .said  they  were  advancing  on  the  Fifty-Fifth  and  fight- 
ing like  h — 1.  I  rode  over  to  Jenkins,  and  we  galloped  to  the  front.  Or- 
dered Connally  to  send  support  to  his  pickets,  and  it  was  done  valiantly. 
The  enemy  lost  over  forty  men.  By  sunset  all  was  quiet.  This  was  a 
demonstration  in  favor  of  Hooker,  Avho  was  now  at  Cha^jellorsville. 

May  2.  All  was  quiet  last  night,  more  so  than  usual,  and  now  up  to 
(j  P.M.  all  is  still  save  an  occasional  gun  and  a  little  picket-firing,  and 
this  continued  during  the  night.  Received  ti>-da_T  general  in.slructions  to 
withdraw  to  the  Blackwater. 

*  From  War  Records,  page  092,  Serial  No.  108. 


FiFTV-XiM/i  New  Youk  L'kj'ilsi:/).  1()7 

May  i^-  Hiis  inoruiiitf  sent  to  the  rear  all  spai'c  articles.  Ija^jf^a^t",  etc. 
At  11  A.M.  (icn.  Loiiystroet  started  for  Franklin,  and  left  me  in  coiiiniand 
of  tlie  army  to  withdraw  it.  Heavy  firing  down  the  river,  and  the  enemy 
is  shelling  the  railroad  crossing.  ('a])tured  men  report  Gen.  l)i\  in  com- 
mand in  SniTolk.  Some  Yankees  came  over  the  river  with  sugar  and 
coffee  to  tra<le. 

The  skirmishing  on  the  left  was  very  heavy,  and  I  sent  down  one  regi- 
ment to  support  (ien.  Anderson,  and  moved  Davis's  Brigade  to  the  left 
about  a  mile.  I  am  now  informed  that  Gen.  Longstreet  did  not  go  at  11 
A.Ai.  as  he  expected  to  do.  At  sunset  the  firing  on  the  left  still  continued, 
and  the  order  to  withdraw  w^as  countermanded.  About  7  I'.^i.  I  recei\etl 
orders  from  Maj.  Latrobe  to  withdraw  in  half  an  hour.  I  then  ordered 
up  the  supports  from  the  railroad,  and  directed  the  men  in  the  advanced 
ritle  i)its  to  be  withdrawn  at  11:30.  At  10  the  column  was  in  motion,  and 
we  marched  steadily  the  distance  of  six  miles.  .  .  .  Arri\ing  at  the 
junction  of  the  StmthQuay  and  Summerton  roads,  I  learned  that  all  Maj. 
Mitchell's  trains  had  crossed  the  Blackwater,  and  Pickett's  wagons  Avere 
now  passing  on  to  the  river  to  cross.  Being  thus  advised,  the  div  sion 
was  halted,  and  I  rode  on  to  look  for  a  good  position  to  form  line  (jf  i)at- 
tle  to  defend  the  crossing  in  ca.se  the  enemy  shoukl  pursue.  I  fouml  an 
admirable  i)osition.  and  disposed  my  forces  accordingly.  Pickett's  Di- 
vision came  up.  and  I  left  Col.  Bi'atten,  with  two  regiments  and  a  bat- 
tery of  artillerj'.  to  ranain  with  the  cavalry  to  guard  the  South  Quay  road. 
This  was  on  the  morning  of  the  4th. 

4th.  In  the  afternoon  received  orders  to  cross  over  the  river,  and 
that  when  all  were  over  to  ride  up  to  see  him  (Longstreet).  The  orders 
of  the  General  left  me  but  two  brigades  for  the  defense  of  the  line  from 
the  James  river  to  the  Chowan  river. 

5th.  Started  this  morning  for  Ivor:  posted  Davis  at  the  Blackwater 
bridge.  .  .  .  Rode  on  to  Zuni.  I  found  Longstreet  was  in  Petersburg, 
and,  as  there  were  two  trains  ready  to  leave,  I  determined  to  ride  up  and 
ascertain  why  he  wished  to  see  me,  and  try  and  get  a  third  brigade.  I 
sent  Feribee's  regiment  dow^n  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  to  find  out  where  the 
enemy  was.  I  left  Zuni  at  2  p.m.,  and  reached  Petersburg  at  3;r)0  v.m.  I 
called  on  Longstreet  as  directed.  I  could  not  induce  him  to  leave  me  the 
third  brigade.  ...  I  then  asked  of  him  permission  to  remain  in  Pe- 
tersburg until  the  morning,  which  he  granted.  Soon  after  a  communica- 
tion was  handed  me  in  which  the  general  commanding  "expressed  sur- 
prise that  I  w'as  in  the  city,  and  asked  me  to  explain  what  induced  me  to 
abandon  my  command."  I  had  a  locomotive  waiting  to  take  me  back  to 
Zuni,  or  Franklin,  as  occasioned  required:  but  considering  the  (ieneral 
told  me  I  could  remain,  and  by  reason  of  this  artful  note,  I  dettHMiiined 
not  to  leave  anyhow  under  such  an  imputation.  He  may  have  lost  his 
temper  at  Lee's  Aictory  at  Chancellorsville  without  him. 

6th.  Wrote  this  morning  to  the  President  and  asked  for  a  court  of  in- 
quiry. 

Now,  while  on  this  siit)ject,  I   will  state  that  the  reiinest  was 


168  Two  Wahs. 

not  ofranted.  Gen.  J.  R.  Davis  inforinod  me  that  the  President 
said  to  liini  my  course  needed  no  vindication,  and  (xen.  Davis 
knew  all  the  facts,  and  I  presmiie  he  stated  them  lo  the  Presi- 
dent. I  wanted  the  court  to  investiofate  the  cause  of  tiie  sur- 
prise and  capture  of  the  garrison  and  Stril)hlinof"s  two  l'"uiis.  and 
other  matters  named  in  my  application  for  the  court,  if  it  were 
ofranted. 

I  will  cxphiin.  although  it  is  a  trifling  matter,  why  I  went  to 
Petersburg,  First,  Longstreet  wrote  me  to  call  and  see  him 
as  soon  as  my  command  crossed  the  I^lackwater.  I)ut  he  left  ))e- 
fore  I  passed  over.  Next,  wdien  1  got  to  Zuni  I  had  posted  my 
troops  all  in  their  old  positions  on  the  line  of  the  Blackwater 
as  they  were  l)efore  Longstreet  mo\c(l  them  to  Suffolk:  no 
Longsti'eet  was  at  Znni. 

Secondly,  Petersl)urg  was  my  headquarters,  and  fiom  there  I 
could  communicate  with  Zuni  and  Franklin,  on  the  Blackwater 
l)y  telegraph  and  railroad,  and  lie  in  either  place  in  a  short  time. 

Thirdly.  Longstreet  left  Franklin  without  turning  the  com- 
mand of  his  two  divisions  over  to  me,  and  I  presumed  he  was 
pressing  forward  with  his  command  to  the  aid  of  Gen.  Lee  at 
Chancellorsville.  who  had  called  him  to  his  assistance  on  the  27th 
of  April,  and  so  often  afterwards.     Continuing,  my  diai-y  says: 

Busy  tlic  balance  of  the  day  in  my  office  with  ollieial  business.  I  did 
not  leave  the  city  until  9  p.jr.,  when  I  took  the  cars  for  Franklin.  I  ar- 
rived there  after  11  p.ji.  Found  all  quiet.  Whilst  I  was  in  Petersburg 
Gen.  Hood  was  impressing  horses  for  cavalry  service.  Carriages,  wag- 
ons, carts,  etc.,  from  which  the  horses  were  unhitched,  were  left  in  the 
streets. 

8th.     Changed  hcadciuarters  to-daj'  to  I\()r.     .     ,     . 

9th.     Arrived  at  Ivor  at  10  a.m.     (ien.  J.  K.  Davis  left  to-day  on  leave. 

13th.     Went  to  Petersburg  anil  remained  there  all  day  following. 

15th.  Started  for  Richmond.  Saw  Gens,  l^ee,  Elzy,  Coopei-.  Kansom, 
Ewell,  and  others.  Dined  with  the  Hon.  Judge  James  Perkins.  In  the 
evening  I  went  to  the  President's.  I  found  him  ill  and  sulVcriiig  with  a 
cough.     I  took  tea  with  them.     .     .     . 

Kith.  Saw  the  Secretary  of  War  this  morning.  S])okc  to  him  about 
leave  of  absence.     Said  it  could  not  !)e  granted.     .     .     . 

23d.  Went  to  the  Blackwater  In-idge,  where  Jenkins's  lirigade  was 
For  exerci.se  to  the  troops  ci'ossed  over  the  river  to  feel  the  enemy,  in 
force,  on  the  other  side.  I  took  about  three  thousand  men  and  four  bat- 
teries of  artillery.  Col.  Green,  with  two  Missi.ssi])pi  regiments,  advanced 
and  drove  in  their  pickets,  and  captured  some  i)roperty.  Could  not 
draw  them  out  to  attack  us.     After  dark  withdrew. 


()i!i>Eiii:i)  To  M issixsiri'i.  169 

Wt'diu'sduy.  "iTlli.  Went  to  I'dcrshiifti'.  iiiti-iiding  to  go  to  Fort  Pow- 
hatan. Kouinl  llici-c  a  dispatcli  int'oniiiug  wiv  that  I  would  l)e  ordered 
on  the  day  lollow  in<i-  In  rciiort  to  Gen.  J.  V..  Johnston  in  Mississippi. 

'i\H\\.  No  orders  lia\  ing  been  received,  I  went  to  Richmond  to  see 
aliout  talking  stall"  oflicers  with  nie.  (ien.  Cooper  could  allow  me  only  my 
aids.  Finally  the  Secretar}'  of  War  gave  me  permission  to  take  my  adju- 
tant general,  a.ssistant  adjutant  general,  quartermaster,  and  orderly. 
The  Secretary  of  War  told  me  that  (ien.  Joseph  F.  Johnston  had  a])]ilied 
for  an  oflicer  of  the  rank  of  major  general,  ae.d  as  they  knew  I  was  ac- 
(juaiiited  with  the  cduiitry.  he  had  ordered  inc.  etc. 

As  I  li;i(l  once  l>een  called  on  to  siihniil  a  plan  for  the  defense 
of  the  Mississi])|)i  river,  and  complied  with  the  reciiiest.  it  niiirht 
have  had  some  intiiienee  on  tiie  action  of  the  Secretai'v.  P)e- 
sides,  I  had  once  declined  duty  at  MckshiU'H'.  (See  letters  from 
the  President  to  (Jen.  Lee,  ^^'al•  Records,  paofe  71<i.  \\\\.  LI.. 
No.  lOS  Serial,  suoforestincr  that  I  be  sent  to  ^Mississippi.) 

Before  I  take  leave  of  the  arduous  duties  I  had  been  perform- 
ino'.  of  defendinir  a  line  three  hundred  miles  in  lenofth,  of  ex- 
chaiiiz'e  of  prisoners,  examining'  corres|)ondence,  obtainins"  sup- 
plies, etc..  I  will  refer  to  some  matters  again  relatinof  to  the 
sieofe  of  Siiti'olk.  about  which  I  made  no  report.  I  iiave  alluded 
to  Gen.  Lonffstreet  taking-  niy  troops  withont  consiiltino"  me. 
and  his  movements  on  to  Siift'olk.  and  his  attempts  to  have  Gen. 
Jenkins  keep  the  command  of  them.  1  am  quite  sure  it  was 
Hood's  chief  of  artillery  who  asked  my  artillery  otficer  for 
guns  to  place  in  the  works  on  the  Nansemond  river,  and  to  w  liich 
I  gave  my  consent.  It  was  not  Gen.  Law,  ])ecaiise  he  protested 
T  hen  ordered  to  garrison  the  fort.  But  this  matters  not.  The 
garrison  and  the  guns  formed  a  part  of  Hood's  command,  and 
yet  (I  am  told)1)oth  Pollard  and  a  clerk  in  theKe)»el  War  Office 
state  in  their  l)ooks  that  I  lost  "Stj-ibbling's  battery:"  and  yet. 
most  erroneous  of  all.  Longstreet  in  Ids  hool-  states  "that  a  bat- 
tery was  put  on  a  lucl-  of  hind  and  ca]itured  ])y  the  enemy." 
He  fails  to  state  that  the  fort  und  (jtii'rdoit  fJnr('!ii  were  cap- 
tured, which  of  cotirse  includes  the  arms  and  the  guns. 

The  great  events  of  war  often  hinge  on  some  small  matter  not 
obvious  to  an  ordinary  commander,  but  which,  at  a  glance,  would 
1)6  visible  to  the  eye  of  the  great  capttiin.  and  provided  for  in 
his  })lans  for  a  \  ictory.  Theconnnander  of  a  remote  su|)porting 
corps  is  presumed,  when  alone,  to  be  able  to  consider  c-arefully 
everything  that  might  occiu- to  prevent  an  immediate  comi)liance 


]70  7' ICO  IVai.-s. 

with  any  expected  order,  especially  that  of  a  prompt  and  rapid 
nio\enient  to  the  aid  of  his  chief,  the  moment  the  call  is  made; 
and  Linigxti'ect  (uraif,)/  tluif  cull. 

Now  from  Sutlolk  to  Ziini  inessagres  were  passed  rapidly  by 
the  best  of  siirnal  men.  Thence  l)y  teleofraph  to  Petersburg, 
Richmond,  and  on  to  Gen.  Lee,  On  the  21st  of  April  Gen.  Lee 
reported  the  enemy  was  at  Kelly's  Ford;  that  Hooker  was  piit- 
tinsf  his  army  in  motion;  tiie  28th  they  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock; the  29th  they  crossed  the  Rapidan,  and  skirmishing  com- 
menced near  Chaneellorsville.  On  the  3()th  the  armies  were  face 
to  face. 

Fi'om  this  it  will  be  seen  that  Gen.  Lee  sounded  the  notes  of 
warning  to  Longstreet  as  early  as  the  21><t  of  Apr/l.  and  Xorris 
on  the  21st  (as  chief  signal  otHcer)  informed  him  Hooker  was 
moving  Avith  one  hundred  and  tifty  thousand  men,  nine  days  be- 
fore he  crossed  the  Rap})aliannock  near  Chaneellorsville  and  was 
confronted  by  Lee.  As  soon  as  the  Y)lans  or  intentions  of  the 
enemy  were  further  divined,  Lee  took  measures  to  concentrate 
his  forces.  To  (ien.  Longstreet,  with  his  army  corps  at  Suffolk, 
he  sent  urgent  dispatches,  ten  of  which  I  copy  from  the  Wiw 
Department  Records  (Vol.  25,  Part  2)  as  follows: 

No.  1.     Page  768. 

.(iliS.  COOPEH   TO  OE.\.  LEE. 

liicHMONi),  May  1.  18C3. 

•inn.  K.  E.  Lee,  Krederieksbiiri.'.  Va. 

Orders  were  sent  on  Wednesday'  (the  29tli  of  A])ril)  to  Gen.  Longstreet 
to  move  forward  his  command  to  reenforoe  you.  He  re])lied  he  would  do 
so  immediately,  but  expected  to  be  a  little  delayed  in  gathering  up  his 
transportation  train  to  pi'event  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
tiien  in  sight.  S.  Coopkk.  AdJiilKnl  (ind  Inspector  Gcnerdl. 

No.  2.     1'age  7r)2 

n.  E.  LEE  TO  THE  PRESIDE.W. 

Headquaktehs,  Akmy  of  NoKTiiEiiN  VuiGiMA,  April  27,  1S63. 

His  E.xcellency,  JetteisoH  l>avis.  President  of  the  Confederate  .St  tes. 

Mr.  Frcsiifitit:  I  have  wriUcn  to  (ien.  Longstreet  to  exjx'dite.  as  much 
as  po.ssible,  his  oj)erations  in  North  (arolina.  as  I  may  Ije  obliged  to  i-ail 
liim  Ixick  at  any  moment.  U.  E.  Lee,  Gcnerid. 

No.  H.     Pa(;e  ITu. 

(/EN.  .S.  COOI'EU  TO  OES.   !>.  IL  HILL. 

liiriiM(iM).  \'.\..  Ajiril  •>'.).  ISO:}. 
Maj.  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  Commanding;,  ficpltlsboro,  N.  ('. 

General:  The  following  telegram  has  just  been  received  from  (ien.  l^ee: 


Kol'.KK'l    K.    Ij.i-, 


XoThs    OF    ir.i/.'.V/Av;.  173 

IIk^  enemy  is  crossing  below  Dee))  Kuii.  about  the  same  plaee  as  before. 
Where  his  main  etTorts  will  be  made  I  cannot  say.     Troops  not 
wanted  south  of  James  river  h:-d  better  i)e  moved  in  this  direetion,  and 
all  otlier  necessary  preparations  made. 

This  renders  it  important  that  such  forces  as  you  deem  judicious  should 
l)e  concentrated  at  Kichmoiid,  to  be  in  sup])orting  distance,  (ieu.  l^ee 
may  telegrapli  you.  .  .  .  A  li/,-t'  i/isj/a/rh  has  been  sant  to  Lieut.  Oen. 
Lonystrcct. 

I  am.  General,  very  I'espectfully.  your  ol^edient  .ser\  ant. 

8.  CoiU'KK,  A'Ijn((I)i/  mid  Insptiior  (ti;h<  nil 

No.  4.     Page  757. 

OEy.  COOPER  7"0  (iEX.   LOXGSTL'JCEJ: 
(ien.  Longstreet. 

The  following  dis])atch  has  just  been  received  from  Gen.  Lee: 

FuEDEKiCKSBUi{(i.  Vx..  April  29,  1863. 
The  enemy  is  in  large  force  on  tlie  north  bank  of  the  Kajjjjaliannock  op- 
posite the  railroad  at  Hamilton's  crossing.  He  is  crossing  troops  below 
the  ])oint  at  which  he  crossed  in  Deceml^er.  ...  I  hear  of  no  other 
point  at  Avliich  he  is  cro.ssing  except  below  Kelly's  Ford,  where  Gen.  How- 
ard has  cro.ssed  with  his  division,  said  to  be  fourteen  thousand,  six  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  some  cavalry.  .  .  .  All  availal)le  troops  had  better  be 
sent  forward  as  I'apidly  as  possible. 

S.  Ci)OPKK,  A<IJ)itt(}it  (Old  InsiKctor  General. 

No.  5.     Page  758. 

GEN.  COOPER  TO  GEN.  LOyaSTREET. 

Adjit.wt  axu  Inspectok  Gexekat/.s  Office,  } 
RiCH.AlOND,  Va.,  April  29,  1868.  * 

LiPiit.  Gen   Longstreet. 

The  following  telegram  just  received  since  the  one  already  communi- 
cated to  you: 

If  any  troops  can  be  .sent  by  rail  to  Gordonsville,  under  a  good  officer. 
\  recommend  it.  Longstreet's  Division,  if  available,  had  better  eome  to  me: 
and  the  troops  for  Gordonsville  and  the  protection  of  the  railroad,  from 
Kichmoad  and  North  Carolina  if  practicable.  Gen.  Howard,  of  the  ene- 
my's forces  making  toward  Gordonsville.     .     .     . 

The  Secretary,  in  view  of  the  above,  directs  the  return  eifyonr  eomuKind. 
or  at  least  such  portions  of  it  as  can  Ije  spared  without  serious  risk:  also 
any  surplus  force  that  can  be  spared  from  D.  H.  Hill.  .  .  .  These  move- 
ments are  reciuired  to  be  made  with/Z/c  utmost  dispatch. 

S.  Cooi'EH,  Adjutant  ayid  fnspcctur  (liuerat. 

No.  6.     Page  758. 

SECRETARY  SEDDOX  TO  GEX.  COOPER. 

Wak  Dki'ak'tment,  C.  S.  A..  April  29.  1863. 
Gen.  Cooper. 

Dear  General:  Hen.  Lee  telegraphs  that  all  av:iilalile  force  at  our  com- 


174  V'iro  U^ARs. 

niand  l)e  .sent  :it  (unc  liy  rail  or  otherwise  toward  (xordonsvillo.  .     . 

Telegraph  Freiu-h  al   IVtersbnrg  to  send  all  available  force  al  his  eom- 
niand.     ...  J.  A.  Seddox.  Sccrctury  of  War. 

No.  7.     Vm;v.  ins. 

SECllETAUY  OF  WAU  TO  OEX.  COOPER. 

War  Office,  Richmond,  A]n-\\  2^J.  18(58. 

•Gen.  Cooper. 

Gen.  Lee.  l\v  another  telegram  just  sent  the  President,  saj's:  •'.  .  . 
Longstreefs  Division,  if  available,  had  better  come  to  me.     .     .     ."" 

J.  A.  Seduon.  Secretary. 

No.  8.     Page  760. 

(7J5.V.  cr)()l'ER  TO  GKX.  LONGSTBEET. 

HiCHMONL).  Va..  April  80,  1803. 
Lieut.  Gen.  .James  Lonijstreet,  Suffolk,  Va. 

Move  without  delay  your  command  to  this  place,  to  effect  a  junction 
Avith  (ien.  Lee.  S.  Cooper.  Adjulant  and  Inspector  Oeneral. 

No.  1>.     Pa(;e  701. 

(iE.\.  LEE  TO  PREfiWEyT  DAVIS. 

Fkei)Eri<'Ksbir(;.  Ajjril  80,  1863. 

His  E.xcellency,  President  Davis. 

Kiiemy  "was  still  crossing  the  Hap])ahanuock  at  ."•  v.m.  yester- 
day. .  .  ()l)ject  evidentl,y  to  turn  my  k'ft.  If  1  iiad  Long- 
street's  Division.  1  would  feel  safe.                               K.  E.  Lee,  (hnrrat. 

No.  10.     Pa(;e  705. 

GES.   I.().\GSTREET  TO  GEN.  COOPER. 

SiFFoLK.  Va..  May  2.  1863. 
Gen.  Cooper. 

I  cannot  move  unless  the  entire  force  is  moved:  and  il  would  then  take 
several  days  to  reach  Fredericksburg.  1  will  endeavor  to  move  as  soon  as 
possible.  Ja>ies  1>oxgstreet,  Lieutenant  Oeneral  Commanding. 

"  Re.sponsihility  cnmiot  exist  without  a  name,*'  or  an  object. 

Perliaps  Lono'strcet  delayed  to  execute  these  orders  for  the 
reason  he  states  (])a_<re  82H).  that  there  was  a  "  plan  of  battle 
]H*ojecte(F'- — that  is,  ""to  sfund  JxIi'ukI  mir  intreiicJicd  ////r-v  and 
(I'lrdlf  tJie  rcfvrii  of  /////  1  i-ikij>s  front  Siitf'olk.^"  ""And  my  im- 
pression is  that  Gen.  Lee,  standin<2:  under  his  trenches,  would 
have  been  stronjorer  aofainst  Hooker  than  he  was  in  December 
against    I)urnsi(lc.    and    he    would    have    (jroirn    sironijci'   every 


ir.i/yv.v;  Foi;  TUK  Wacoss.  175 

Jioiii'  of  (Ichii/r  "\\\  the  time  the  divisions  of  l*iekett  and 
Hood  eoiild  liave  joined  (Jen.  Lee.  Hooker  would  have  found 
that  he  nuist  niai-ch  to  attack  or  make  a  reti'eat  without  hattle. 
It  srviHx  prol»al)le  tiiat  under  t/n  orhjludl  jihm  the  l)atth'  would 
have  (jlroi  fruits  iroiih)/  of  a  ofeneral  enofaofenient." 

Lonii'st reel's  first  dis])ateh  (Hsclnsnl  /i/'s  liifciiflnii-s  t<>  Lee^ 
and  Lee  wisely  decided  not  to  wait  ten  or  twelve  days  for 
Lonii'street  to  join  him.  Moreover,  it  is  not  prohahle  that  Lee 
thouoflit  Hooker  would  he  so  kniirldly  as  to  :iwait  the  arri\al  of 
the  Suti'olk  troops  before  ijivino;  I)attle.  Lon<r«treet  does  not 
deal  even  in  the  conjectural,  for  it  is  not  based  on  any  evidenee; 
he  merely  guesses. 

But  it  is  l)etter  to  deal  with  the  possi])le. 

Two  l)rio-a(lcs  could  have  1)een  withdrawn  from  before  Suf- 
folk on  the  niii'ht  of  the  2Tth  of  April  and  sent  to  join  Gen. 
Lee.  then  the  main  foree  (m  the  niffht  of  the  28th.  There  is 
no  doubt  aliout  this.  In  this  event  the  enemy  could  have  passed 
the  29th  in  disco verino-  our  intentions.  Rather  than  crossing 
the  Nansemond  river  and  a'ivino-  us  ])attle,  they  would  have 
awaited  orders,  and  probably  been  sent  to  Fredericks)  )urg  to 
aid  Hooker:  l)ut  this  is  not  important. 

On  the  2Sth  he  eould  have  (u-dered  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  then  at 
(loldsboro.  to  have  protected  the  train,  ealled  on  AVhiting  at 
^^'ilmino■ton  for  aid.  while  I  had  a  division  at  Franklin  on  the 
Blackwater,  and  foi-ees  elsewhere  which  would  no  doul)t  liave 
saved  the  train  from  the  enemy.  His  tirst  dispatch  is  very  mis- 
leading, and  does  not  convey  the  idea  that  he  would  sit  dow-u  and 
wait  six  days  for  the  wagons  1)ef()re  he  withdrew.  While  this 
was  going  on  at  Suti'olk,  the  lieroie  ""Stonewair*  Jackson  was 
marching  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Hooker's  army,  and  when  it 
was  aiuiounced  to  him  that  the  enemy  iras  cai)turing  hix  wagon 
train,  without  checking  the  walk  of  his  horse  he  said:  "Do  not 
let  them  c-apture  any  amnumition  wagons."  What  value  were 
his  bago'age  wagons  (\;m])ared  to  the  loss  of  even  a  few  minutes 
in  accom])lishing  the  great  object  of  his  movement,  on  which 
\iclory  dependecl.  To  his  master  mind  before  him  was  the  en- 
emy, the  impending  battle,  the  victory,  and  the  reward  due  to 
genius  of  battle,  with  all  the  spoils  of  war  strewn  in  the  con- 
(|uei'or"s  path.  And  it  was  so.  And  thus  it  was  that  Long- 
>^treet.   by  not    etl'ecting  a   juiu-tion    with    Lee.    "put    the   i-aus,' 


17(5  Tiro    ir.lA'.s". 

upon  the  liu/ai'd  of  a  <!'< .  fri})prmi:"  it   \\\  resources  and  future 
pros'rt'ss."     (Sec  Lonsi'strcct.  j).  :'):>••.) 

Mark  Antony,  in  his  sprccli  over  the  dead  C'jvsai".  said: 
"Power  in  most  men  has  hioun-ht  tlieir  faults  to  Iio:ht.  Power 
in  Ciesar  l)rou2rlit  into  prominence  his  exeelleneies." 

So  power  u'iven  Lee  made  known  to  tlie  workl  the  nohility 
of  his  eliaraeter  and  greatness  as  a  eonnnander;  whik^  in  others 
it  disek)sed  a  spirit  of  envy  and  a  (k'sire  for  detraction:  and  in 
all  somi'  ])eculiarities.  Lee  was  not  conscious  of  his  strength, 
because  his  p-eatness  of  soul  was  derived  from  his  2:oodness  of 
heart,  and  it  rested  upon  him  with  tiie  ease  and  grace  of  a  gar- 
ment. His  generosity  induced  him  to  overlook  the  frailty  in- 
cident to  humanity,  and  to  forgive  even  disobedience  in  his 
lieutenants.  He  remembered  what  flob  said  altout  a  book,  and 
wrote  none.  He  envied  no  one.  He  left  no  writings  extant 
naming  an  enemy,  and  his  harshest  remark  in  reference  to  an 
oliicei-  of  high  rank  Avas,  in  etiect,  that  he  was  ''slow  to  move.'' 

The  otHcial  reports  sho^v  that  Hooker  had  161,-1-1»I  men  and 
4tJ0  guns.  Lee's  forces  numl)ered  oS.loo  men.  with  IT"  guns. 
This  was  known  tt)  Lee's  lieutenants. 

The  pul)lication  of  the  Otficial  Record  by  Congress  discloses 
the  fact  that  Mr.  Sedchm  induced  (Jen.  Lee  to  send  (len.  L<mg- 
street  with  Hood's  and  Pickett's  Divisions  to  cover  Richmond, 
which  he  thought  menaced  from  Fortress  Monroe  and  Suffolk. 
Lee  thought  Pickett's  Division  sufficient.  (Official  Record. 
Vol.  22.  p.  (>2;!. ) 

I  had  the  name  and  reported  strength  of  every  regiment  in 
l)oth  Suffolk  and  Norfolk.  oi»taine<l  from  blockade  rumiers  and 
veriMed  by  ))i-isoners.  Sullolk  had  no  strategic  value  to  the 
enemy  of  any  import,  and  none  to  us.  In  IS(>2  I  designed  the 
taking  of  Suffolk,  and  on  an  api)ointedday  asseml)le(l  some  eight 
or  nine  thousand  troops  at  Franklin,  on  the  Blackwater.  The 
only  oilicers  who  had  any  knowledge  of  this  were  Gens.  (t.  W. 
Smith,  in  iJichinond.  aiidJ.  .1.  Pettigi'cw.  It  was  stopped,  the 
morning  the  troops  asseinble<l.  by  (Ji'n.  (i.  W.  Smith  on  strate- 
gic grounds  and  it  not  being  a  depot  of  supplies:  and  he  was 
i-ight.  And  when  Secretary  Se(Ulon,  against  Lee's  adxit-e.  joined 
with  Longstreet  in  ino\ing  on  Suffolk  so  late  in  the  spring,  he 
or  Longstreet  conniiitlc«l  an  error,  the  conseciuence  of  which  was 
Lee  hail  to  li^-hl   Ibioker  with  the  force   just  statecl.  without  the 


The  Hazabi)  of  a  Die.  177 

aid  of  his  lieutenant  tjeneral.      Who  was  it,  then,  tiial   jxit   the 
"Confederacy  on  the  hazard  of  a  dieT' 

Hooker  would  never  have  end)ai'ke(l  his  o-i-eai  army  on  the 
Potomac  at  Aquia,  and  carried  them  l)ack  where  they  had  once 
been  under  Gen.  McClellan,  and  Richmond  was  not  in  dan<rer, 
and  Loujo^street's  expedition  to  Sutiblk  not  in  accordance  with 
grand  strategy;  and  but  for  Lee's  audacity,  and  Stonewall  Jack- 
son's swift  movements  and  vigorous  blows  at  Chancellorsville, 
the  Confederacy  would  have  l)een  there  shattered  into  fragments, 
and  all  by  one  false  movement  to  Suffolk. 

•'  Fortuiu'  loves  a  tlai'ing  suitor." 

Lee  threw  down  the  iron  glove,  and  the  daring  suitor  won! 
It  was  the  most  remarkable  victory  of  the  war,  but  by  the  ab- 
sence of  those  divisions,  and  the  death  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  the 
large  fruits  of  the  victory  were  lost. 
12 


CHAPTER  XTTT. 

Leave  Petersbiirp^  for  Jackson,  Miss. — Visit  Home — My  Division  Composed 
of  the  Brifjades  of  Gens.  Maxey,  Evans,  and  McNair— Extraordinary 
Correspondence  between  (ien.  Johnston  and  President  Davis — Move- 
ments to  Attack  Grant  at  Vicksburg — Fall  of  Vicksburg — Retreat  to 
Jackson  —Siege  of  Jackson — Visit  Home — Negro  Troops  Surround  the 
House — Narrow  p]scape — Vandalism — Johnston  Takes  ('ommand  of  the 
Army  of  Tennessee — Polk  in  Command  of  Army  of  Mississippi — A  Court 
of  Inquirj'  That  Was  Not  Held — My  Division  at  Meridian — President 
Davis — Jackson  Burned — Sherman's  Advance  on  Meridian — Ordered  to 
Mobile — Polk  Crossing  Tomlngbee  River — He  Is  Slow  to  Move — Go  to 
Demopolis — Mr.  Founier — Sent  to  Lauderdale — Tuscaloosa — Monteval- 
lo — Reach  Rome — Fight  at  Rome — Join  Gen.  Johnston  at  Cassville. 

ON  Wednesday.  June  8,  1863,  I  started  in  accordance  with 
orders  from  Petersburo^  to  report  to  Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston 
in  Mississippi.  I  arrived  in  Jackson  on  the  loth.  Next  day 
reported  for  duty;  but  as  I  had  not  been  home  since  I  joined  the 
army,  and  the  service  was  not  pressing,  got  permission  to  vis- 
it my  family.  I  went  by  stage  to  Yazoo  City,  and  by  chance 
met  my  neighbor.  F.  A.  Metcalf,  tliere,  and  together  we  crossed 
the  Yazoo  Ijottonis.  Riding  horseback,  sixty-tive  miles  the  last 
day,  I  reached  my  home  on  Deer  Creek  at  11  p.m.,  and  found  my 
mother,  sister,  and  little  daughter,  aged  nearly  eight  years,  all 
well.  1  remained  at  home  ^londay,  the  1.5th,  and  started  back 
on  the  16th.  Before  I  reached  home  Mr.  Bowie,  my  agent,  had 
gone  to  Georgia  with  seventy-eight  of  my  negro  servants,  leav- 
ing twenty-tive  here  to  cvdtivate  a  corn  crop.  I  joined  my  di- 
vision, composed  of  the  brigades  of  Gens.  Maxey,  McNair,  and 
Evans,  on  the  24th,  encamped  at  Mrs.  CarraAvay's,  in  Madison 
County,  near  Livingston;  put  Gen.  Evans  in  arrest  by  order 
of  Gen.  Johnston.  I  was  in  camp  the  25th  and  the  two  days 
following. 

Before  proceeding  any  further  in  reference  to  military  matters 
in  Mississippi,  I  will  give  some  rich  correspondence  that  took 
place  between  (Jen.  Johnston  and  President  Davis  and  which  I 
knew  nothing  about  until  months  after  it  occurred.  Here  it  is. 
(See  page  195,  AVar  Records,  Serial  36. ) 


JOSEPH    E.   JOHNSTON. 


Officers  of  Northern  Birth.  181 

Canton.  Miss..  June  9.  1863.  ) 

Via  Montgomery.  June  10.     \ 
His  Excelleney,  Pre.sidont  Davis. 

It  has  Ijeen  suj^fjjested  to  nie  that  the  troops  in  this  department  are  very 
hostile  to  officers  of  Northern  birth,  and  that  on  that  account  Maj.  Gen. 
French's  arrival  will  weaken  instead  of  strenjjfthening  us.  I  beg  you  to 
consider  that  (tU  the  general  officers  of  Northern  l)irth  are  on  duty  in  this 
department.  There  is  now  a  want  of  major  generals  (discipline).  It  is 
important  to  avoid  any  cause  of  further  discontent.        J.  K.  Johnston. 

THE  ANSWER. 

Richmond.  Va.,  June  11.  1863. 

<Sen.  .J.  E.  Johnston. 

Your  dispatch  received.  Those  who  suggest  that  the  arrival  of  Gen. 
French  will  produce  discontent  among  the  troops  because  of  his  Northern 
birth  are  not  ))rol)ably  aware  that  he  is  a  citizen  of  Mississippi,  was  a 
wealthy  planter  until  the  Yankees  robbed  him;  and,  before  the  Confeder- 
ate States  had  an  array,  was  the  chief  of  ordnance  and  artillery  in  the  force 
Mississippi  raised  to  maintain  her  right  of  secession.  As  soon  as  Missis- 
sippi could  spare  lvi:n  he  was  appointed  a  brigadier  general  in  the  Provi- 
sional Army  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  has  frequently  been  before  the 
enemy  where  he  was  the  senior  officer.  If  malignity  should  undermine 
him.  as  it  had  another,  you  are  authorized  to  notify  him  of  the  fact  and  to 
relieve  him,  communicating  it  to  me  hy  telegram. 

Surprised  by  your  remark  as  to  the  general  officers  of  Northern  birth,  I 
turned  to  the  register,  and  find  that  a  large  majority  of  the  number  are 
elsewhere  than  in  the  Department  of  Mississippi  and  eastern  Louisiana. 

Jeffek.son  Uavis. 

Men  of  Northern  l)irth  who  held  hiffh  rank  in  the  Confedera- 
cy: Samuel  Cooper,  oreneral,  New  Jersey;  Josiah  Goro^as,  chief 
of  ordnance,  Pennsylvania;  John  C.  Pemberton,  general,  Penn- 
sylvania; Charles  Clark,  creneral  and  Governor  of  Mississippi, 
Ohio;  Daniel  Rnofgles,  oreneral,  Massachusetts;  Walter  H.  Stev- 
ens, general,  New  York;  Julius  A.  DeLagnel,  New  Jersey;  John 
R.  Cooke,  general,  Missouri;  R.  S.  Ripley,  general,  Ohio; 
Hoffman  Stevens,  general,  Connecticut;  Samuel  G.  French,  gen- 
eral, New  Jersey;  Bushrod  R.  Johnson,  general,  Ohio;  James 
L.  Alcorn,  general,  Illinois  (was  Governor  and  United  States 
Senator);  Danville  Leadbetter,  general,  Maine;  Archibald  Gra- 
de, general,  New  York;  William  McComb,  general,  Penn.sylva- 
nia;  Otho  French  Strahl,  general,  Ohio;  Daniel  M.  Frost,  gen- 
eral. New  York;  Albert  G.  Blanchard,  general,  Massachusetts; 
Johnson  K.  Duncan,  general,  Pennsylvania;  Albert  Pike,  gen- 
eral, Massachusetts;  Daniel  H.  Reynolds,  general,  Ohio;  Ed- 
ward Aylesworth  Perry,   general,  Massachusetts;    Francis  A. 


182  Tjvo  Wars. 

Shoup,  general,  Indiana;  Martin  L.  Smith,  ironcral.  New  York; 
Franklin  (rardner.  o-eneral,  New  York. 

A  brief  sketch  of  these  men  was  published  in  the  Aflniifd 
Constitution  by  Prof.  J.  T.  Derry.  The  number  is  twenty-six, 
and  twelve  of  them  were  educated  at  West  Point.  They  believed 
in  the  right  of  States  to  secede,  and,  owing  allegiance  to  the 
States  where  they  li\('d  or  wished  to  reside,  tiiev  cast  their  lot 
with  the  South. 

July  1.  ISO;}.  Moved  to  some  spriii$;s  on  the  Vernon  and  Brownsville 
roatl . 

2d.  Moved  at  4  a.m.:  marched  through  Brownsville.  1  slept  under  a 
tree  last  night,  but  have  an  abandoned  house  to-night. 

3d.  Rode  over  to  meet  Gen.  Johnston.  There  were  present  Gens.  Lor- 
ing,  W.  H.  T.  Walker,  Jackson,  and  myself.  If  there  be  any  one  thing  in 
this  part  of  the  eounti'y  more  ditiieult  than  all  others,  it  is  to  find  a  person 
who  knows  the  i-oads  ten  miles  from  his  home.  Nine  hours  were  spent  in 
vainly  attempting  to  get  accurate  information  from  the  citizens  respect- 
ing the  roads  and  streams.-  But  little  could  be  learned  of  the  country  on 
either  side  of  the  Big  Black  that  was  satisfactory,  because  it  was  so  con- 
tradictory. 

July  4.  Anniversary  of  a  declaration  that  was  read  eighty-seven  years 
ago,  and  which  awakened  a  benighted  world  to  the  fact  that  man  was  born 
with  certain  inalienable  rights.  All  was  still  in  the  direction  of  Vicksburg. 
What  does  it  portend'.'  No  firing  there  yet,  and  it  is  12  M.  But  there  is 
always  something  to  mar  one's  pleasure  or  disturb  his  rest,  for  now  came 
the  news  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  Messenger's  Ferry,  on  the  Big 
Black.     ... 

5th.  Kemaiued  in  camp.  Some  skirmishing  on  the  Big  Black.  The 
order  of  Gen.  Johnston  to  cross  the  Big  Black  and  attack  Grant's  new  line 
was  issued.  I  soon  after  received  news  of  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  and 
it  was  determined  to  fall  back  toward  Jackson.  The  enemy's  camp  fires 
extend  about  three  miles  on  the  other  side  of  the  stream.     .     .     . 

(ith.  My  division  in  advance.  Moved  by  Queen's  Hill  Church  to  some 
ponds  near  Clinton.  The  daj'  was  very  hot  and  the  dust  simply  awful.  I 
took  breakfast  with  J.  E.  Davis,  brother  of  the  President.     .     .     . 

8th.  We  reached  Jackson  yesterday  at  2  v.y\.  Enemy  at  Clinton.  I 
rode  around  with  Gen.  Johnston  to  examine  the  line.  It  is  miserably  lo- 
cated and  not  half  completed. 

9th.  This  morning  I  was  awakened  at  2  ^.^\.  lo  take  my  division  to  the 
trenches. 

10th.  All  day  there  has  been  heavy  fighting.  In  front  of  (ien.  Evans 
the  enemy  has  got  so  near  that  they  render  it  diiruniltto  man  the  guns.  .  .  . 

llth.  The  order  of  thedivisionsof  the  army  that  encircle  Jackson,  from 
tlic  river  above  the  city  to  the  river  l)elo\v,  is  as  follows,  beginning  on  the 
right:  Ivoring,  Walker,  French,  and  Breckinridge.  Fighting  commenced 
early  this  morning,  and  the  firing  was  rapid  all  along  the  line.     About  11 


(fOr.  Pettvs.  183 

A.M.  we  drove  the  eueiiiy  from  their  lines  :iii<l  hiii-ned  ;i  numlper  of  liouses 
that  they  occupied. 

From  now  on  to  the  KJth  the  usual  occurrences  of  cunnonud- 
ing,  dismounting  pieces,  lighting  all  the  time,  continued.  Cot- 
ton l)ales  were  set  on  fire  that  were  used  for  breastworks,  i\{igH 
of  truce  to  bury  the  dead  passed,  shells  are  fallin<?  all  over  the 
town.  The  Governor  of  the  State,  Pettus,  is  in  the  city  about 
the  capitol.  He  croes  over  the  river  at  nijjht  to  {)revent  being 
captured.  He  believes  the  main  object  of  the  expedition  is  to 
capture  /u'//i.  Well,  he  has  his  early  wishes  gratified.  The 
Yankees  have  set  their  feet  on  the  sacred  soil  of  his  domain! 
Where  are  his  double-barrel  shotguns  to  ambuscade  the  Yan- 
kees? 

16th.  Met  at  Gen.  Jolinston's  to  consider  the  order  of  evacuating  the 
town.  At  10  P.M.  troops  were  withdrawn  from  the  trenches,  and  at  1  a.m. 
the  advanced  skirmishers.  We  reached  Brandon  at  8  a.m.  Two  of  Evans's 
men  were  left,  accidentally,  on  the  skirmish  line  with  some  amateur  sol- 
diers, and  in  the  morning  when  they  awoke  they  found  themselves  alone. 
The  enemy  did  not  discover  our  departure  until  late. 

While  in  camp  near  Brandon  I  was  taken  sick  with  remittent 
fever,  and  was  granted  a  leave  of  al)sence  and  left  for  Colum- 
bus, Ga.,  and  made  my  home  with  Judge  G.  E.  Thomas.  When 
my  leave  was  out  I  received  a  dispatch  from  Gen.  J.  E.  John- 
ston to  remain  in  Columbus,  as  I  would  be  required  as  a  witness 
for  him  before  a  Court  of  Inquiry  to  be  held  in  Atlanta. 

I  remained  in  Coliuubus  and  at  the  Warm  Springs  most  of  the 
month  of  September,  and  then  went  to  Enterprise,  Miss. 

October  19.  Received  a  dispatch  to  move  to  Meridian,  prepared  to  take 
the  tielil.  Found  the  President  at  the  hotel,  and  hail  an  interview  with 
him  alone. 

November  7.     Moved  my  command  to  Meridian. 

14th.  Started  to  make  a  visit  to  my  family  at  my  home  in  Washing- 
ton County.  1  took  with  me  Lieut.  James  R.  Yerger,  one  of  my  aids,  and 
Levi,  one  of  my  servants. 

16th.  We  left  Canton  with  two  cavalrymen  as  a  guard;  crossed  the 
Yazoo  at  Yazoo  City.  About  sunset  we  reached  Col.  Fall's  plantation,  on 
Deer  Creek.  Tlie  enemy  had  passed  there  the  day  previous.  Crossing 
the  creek  at  Jmlge  Ruck's  jjlautation  (Judge  Ruck  is  my  aid's  grandfather). 
we  met  an  old  negro  man  leading  a  ponj^  over  the  l)ridgc.  Lieut.  Yerger 
knew  the  old  man,  and  asked  what  he  was  doing  witii  the  pony.  He  said 
the  Yankees  were  on  tlie  creek  about  three  miles  below  my  iiouse,  and  he  was 
saving  his  pony.     In  the  dark  we  were  not  recognized  by  the  old  servant. 


184  Two  Wars. 

But  for  meeting  this  old  servant  we  should  have  ridden  into  the  camp  of 
the  Yankees.  After  a  while  we  recrossed  the  creek  and  rode  on  up  to 
Eleck  Yerger's,  called  him  up,  and  slept  in  his  parlor.  He  confirmed  the 
negro's  statement  about  the  Yankees  Ijeing  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek. 
I  got  a  cup  of  coffee,  or  something  else  (think  it  was  the  latter),  and  rode 
on  up  the  creek  till  we  got  opposite  my  house. 

It  is  the  19th  of  November.  Indian  summer:  the  sky  ha/y.  and  a  drowsy 
sleepiness  rested  over  the  landscape.  Seeing  a  crow  resting  himself  on 
the  front  gatepost,  I  dismounted  and  crossed  to  my  home.  1  found  moth- 
er, sister,  and  my  little  Tillie  all  well.  They  were  surprised  and  delighted 
to  see  lis.  and  then  they  were  frightened  also.  They  said  the  Yankees  were 
a  mile  or  two  above  us,  and  two  miles  below  us. 

20th.  I  put  a  faithful  male  slave  on  the  upper  gallery  to  watch  the 
roads,  and  especially  to  report  if  any  dust  was  raised  on  the  road,  and  then 
I  was  content  for  the  day.  However  1  thought  the  "  Yanks  "  were  too  near, 
and  that  my  being  at  home  would  be  made  known,  so  I  ordered  the  horses 
to  be  at  the  door  at  5  p.m.  to  ride  down  the  creek  to  a  neighbor's  ten  miles 
Ix'loAv,  and  the  family  to  come  down  next  day  to  whei'e  1  was  going.  I 
Avas  implored  not  to  go,  but  I  resisted  entreaties.  We  rode  across  the 
plantation  to  Metcalf's  house.  My  servant  knocked  at  the  door  and  re- 
ceived no  response.  Mrs.  Metcalf  came  out  by  a  side  door  and  exclaimed: 
"Gen.  French,  yoix  must  not  cross  the  creek.  Look  at  the  camp  fires  of 
the  Yankees  just  in  front  of  you! "  I  asked  for  Mr.  Metcalf,  and  was  told 
he  had  fled  to  the  woods.  His  agent  was  on  the  fence  watching  for  the 
"Yanks."  It  was  now  quite  dai'k.  Notwithstanding  all  this  advice,  we 
forded  the  creek  and  I  went  forward  to  reconnoiter.  I  found  no  pickets, 
so.  it  being  late,  we  went  into  the  woods  and  rested  for  the  night. 

21st.  We  mounted  our  horses  and  rode  out  to  reconnoiter.  We  n\et 
Mr.  Metcalf.  I  learned  that  two  white  Yankee  officers  and  a  (company  of 
colored  soldiers  surrounded  my  house  about  ten  minutes  after  we  left  it. 
So  as  we  wei'e  crossing  the  field  east,  this  company  was  in  the  field  com- 
ing up  from  the  south.  The  negroes  surrounded  the  dwelling,  and  the  of- 
ficers entered  to  capture  me.  They  were  told  I  had  left.  This  did  not 
satisfy  them.  My  sister  took  a  light  and  went  with  one  officer  and  let  him 
search  all  the  rooms  and  closets  upstairs.  Then  she  told  him  where  the 
ste])s  were;  and  insisted  that  he  should  go  up  into  the  cockloft  to  be  sure 
that  I  was  not  there.  He  declined,  saj'ing  it  was  an  unpleasant  duty  he 
was  sent  to  j)erform,  and  apologized  for  the  trouble  he  had  given  the  fam- 
ily. Wlien  my  sister  returned  to  the  sitting  room  the  other  officer  had 
my  rnitcd  States  army  uniform  coat  in  his  hand.  He  told  her  it  was 
a  contra  I  land  article,  and  as  such  he  would  take  it.  She  replied:  "I 
know  you  arc  going  to  steal  it,  and  to  relieve  your  conscience  from  re- 
morse I  will  give  you  the  coat.  It  is  my  brother's,  but  he  would  scorn  to 
wear  it  with  those  badges  on  it."  He  declined  to  accept  it,  but  as  a  con- 
tral)and  article  he  wotdd  take  it.  She  then  asked  him  if  contraband  ar- 
ticles were  the  property  of  the  individual,  and  he  ansv.ered:  "I  shall  make 
a  report  of  my  visit  to  the  commanding  officer."  During  these  ])roceed- 
ings  the  "First  Colored  Native  Mississippi  Cavalry  "  stole  two  mules  and 


Colored  Yankees.  185 

a  horst'.  all  we  hail  mi  the  place.  And  I  will  here  remark  that  my  dear 
friend  (i-lassniatc  and  rooiuniate  at  West  Point),  (ien.  Fred  Steele,  had 
in  the  spriii]^  carried  olT  tliirty-live  tine  mules  for  the  lienefit  of  the  United 
States.  He  siiu'<M-ely  apologized  to  my  mother  for  this  act.  but  it  was  an 
order  of  Gen.  Grant's  that  he  had  to  execute.     But  more  of  this  anon. 

Novend)er  32.  This  is  my  birtliday.  After  I  learned  that  the  blacks 
came  so  near  capturing  me  I  determined  to  let  mother  know  that  I  was 
not  captured,  so  I  went  back  home  and  took  breakfast  with  them.  Bid- 
ding them  good-by,  I  tried  to  console  them,  but  it  was  with  a  bitter  heart 
that  I  left  them  alone  without  a  horse  to  send  a  servant  in  case  of  any  ne- 
cessity. During  the  night  we  saw  a  tire  down  the  creek,  and  when  I  got 
back  to  where  I  left  my  aid  I  learned  that  the  enemy  set  fire  to  Judge  Shall 
Yerger's  house  while  the  family  were  asleep,  and  thej^  barely  escaped 
alive.  The  Yankees,  colored  ones,  being  mainly  on  the  right  V)ank,  we 
traveled  down  the  left,  in  the  rear  of  the  plantations,  to  Boguc  Phalia. 
Away  out  in  this  wilderness  of  woods,  at  Ur.  Harpers,  we  were  treated  to 
a  bottle  of  cham})agne.  We  drank  it  on  the  banks  of  that  meandering 
stream  out  of  tin  cups:  it  was  good  all  the  same.  We  went  on  to  Mr. 
Heathman's,  on  Indian  Bayou,  to  stay  all  night.  My  two  guards,  innocent- 
ly going  up  Deer  Creek,  rode  into  a  camp  of  negro  troops  and  were  tired 
at  in  the  dark,  and  fled  to  this  place.  As  we  rode  up  to  the  house  the  two 
soldiers  came  out  with  their  carbines,  but  Mr.  Heathman  (a  feather  bed 
ranger)  jumped  out  the  window  and  hid  back  in  the  rear,  and  no  calling 
induced  him  to  come  back.  About  twelve  o'clock  at  night  he  came  up, 
peeped  in  the  wintlow,  saw  we  were  not  Yankees,  and  came  in.  But  his 
supper  had  vanished.     .     .     . 

25th.  I  arrived  at  Jackson,  or  where  Jackson  once  was.  and  found  it 
in  ruins,  it  having  been  burned  down  by  "  childlike  and  bland  "  Sherman. 
Now  1  tirst  heard  of  the  defeat  of  Bragg  at  Missionary  Ridge  yesterdaj%  No- 
vember 35,  and  felt  very  gloomy. 

December  6.  I  received  orders  to  move  the  brigades  of  Ector  and  Mc- 
Nair  to  Brandon  with  the  batteries.  Capt.  V.  D.  Myers  left  to-night.  He 
is  a  gentleman  and  a  good  officer.     His  home  is  in  Wilmington.  N.  C. 

13th.  (ien.  Johnston  arrived  yesterday.  Gen.  J.  R.  Lidell  remained 
in  camp  with  me  Friday  and  Saturday. 

14th.  Capt.  J.  M.  Baldwin  left  this  morning  for  Columbus,  Ga.,  taking 
with  him  my  servant,  John  Sharp.  He  is  not  in  the  service  now,  and  goes 
there  as  my  agent  to  care  for  my  servants  taken  out  there. 

17th  to  23d.  Gen.  Johnston  ordered  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of 
Tennessee.  Lieut.  Gen.  Polk  in  command  of  this  department  now^  To- 
morrow Gen.  Johnston  will  leave  for  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  much  to  my 
regret. 

December  24.  This  morning  (ien.  Polk  .sent  for  me  ami  tokl  me  that  he 
would  start  for  Enterprise  at  once,  and  we  rode  down  to  the  d<'pot  togeth- 
er. The  cars  had  left,  and  he  took  a  locomotive  and  started  after  the 
train.  During  the  ride  he  said  he  wished  me  to  go  to  Jackson  and  put  the 
railroad  and  the  bridges  in  repair.  In  the  afternoon  we  drove  to  Jack- 
son.    At  Mrs.  Ruck's  Ave  had  tableau  and  charades.     Women  are  never 


186  Two  Wars. 

suppressed,  always  clicerful.    How  many  of  the  Verier  families  were  there? 
There  are  five  brothers,  all  lawyers,  and  jjood  ones. 

2(5th.  Ketunied  to  Brandon.  Notliiiiti  of  note  oeenrrt-d  l)elwe«Mi  the 
20th  and  80th. 

Judfife  Shall  Yerofer  was  a  neio:lil)or  of  mint'  on  Deer  Creek, 
near  ( ireenville,  Miss.  He  was  an  eminent  jurist  and  able  jiul^e. 
He  maintained  almost  absolute  silence  in  his  court.  Except 
those  eno^aged  in  a  case,  no  one  was  ])ermitted  to  talk  above 
a  whisper.  He  was  fond  of  tellinof  anecdotes  to  ofood  and  ap- 
])reciative  listenei's.  His  aversion  to  the  use  of  li([uor  was 
marked,  and  he  condemned  playinir  cards  for  money. 

Now  it  happened  in  some  way  that  the  gi'and  jury  of  Wash- 
ingfton  C'oimty  had  indicted  his  ne})hew,  wMio  was  sheriff  of  the 
county.  Dr.  Finley,  and  some  others  for  playing  cards  for  mon- 
ey. At  the  meeting  of  the  court,  when  the  nephew"'s  case  was 
called  he  pleaded  guilty,  and,  after  some  good  advice,  the  judge 
imposed  on  him  a  tine  of  tifty  dollars.  When  Dr.  Finley's  case 
was  before  the  court  his  attorney  declared  the  witness  was  re- 
vealing the  secrets  of  the  bedchamber.  Y  et  he  was  foimd  guilty 
on  two  indictments.  The  Judge  sat  in  a  rocking-chair,  and  be- 
fore he  ])r()ii()tmced  sentence  he  occupied  about  ten  minutes  in 
delivering  a  homily  on  the  imi)ropriety  of  an  accomplished  gen- 
tleman, who  by  his  profession  had  the  entree  to  all  the  best  fam- 
ilies, who  should,  while  perhaps  the  shadow  of  death  was  hovering 
ovei"  his  patient,  be  so  indifferent  as  to  play  cards  and  distress 
the  family,  .  .  .  ending  in  fining  the  Doctor  tifty  dollars  in 
each  case  in  the  most  imperturba])le  manner,  and  saying  the  Doc- 
tor w'ould  stand  committed  imtil  the  tine  was  paid.  To  this  the 
Doctor  observed:  *'  May  it  pletise  your  honor,  you  know  that  we 
all  keep  our  funds  in  New  Orleans,  and  I  can  only  pay  by  a 
draft.''  He  was  informed  that  was  a  matter  ])etween  him  and 
the  officers  of  the  court.  So  he  rinally  sat  down,  and  as  the 
Judge  was  indebted  to  Finley  for  ])rofessional  services,  he  drew 
the  check  on  //////.  and  handed  it  to  the  sheriff',  who  gave  it  to 
the  clerk,  who  in  tiu'n  j)as.sed  it  to  the  Judge.  He  glanced  o\cr 
it,  all  the  while  I'ocking  gently,  and  without  a  change  of  coun- 
tenance handed  it  back  to  the  clerk  with  the  (juiet  rcuiurk:  "  77ir 
ccjiift  ri'iii'ifK  till'  p' lie  iiiipoxi'd  on  Dr.   yinlii/.'^ 

On  landing  in  Vicksburg  one  day,  and  when  w;dking  to  the 
hotel,  he  was  met  bv  a  man  to  whom  he  owed  ;i  small  bill.  who. 


VANDALISAf.  187 

after  the  usual  salutations  of  the  day,  said  to  the  Judge:  ""  I  have 
some  debts  to  pay,  and  I  wish  you  would  hand  ine  the  small 
amount  you  owe  me."'  "Sir,"  said  the  fJudge.  "have  you  the 
audacity  to  ask  me  to  pay  my  debts  while  your  own  are  unpaid  ? 
Go  and  pay  your  del)ts  tirst,  then  you  can  with  proi)i-iety  ask  me 
to  pay  mine,"'  and  left  him  to  analyze  the  sophistry  of  his  advice. 
When  Gen.  Frederick  Steele  was  sent  to  Deer  Creek  by  Gen, 
Grant  to  destroy  all  mills  that  could  sup])ly  the  garrison  in  Vicks- 
burg  Avith  Hour,  and  bring  away  the  live  stock,  he  reached  Judge 
Shall  Yerger's  about  noon,  and  he  and  his  staff  were  invited  to 
dine  with  them.  Steele  gave  positive  orders  only  to  break  the 
machinery  of  the  grain  mill,  and  to  l)urn  nothing.  While  they 
were  at  dinner  a  servant  woman  rushed  into  the  dining  room  and 
exclaimed:  "O  missus,  the  ginhouse  is  on  tire."  Mrs.  Yerger 
rose  from  her  seat  in  great  excitement,  but  the  kludge  said  in  the 
most  quiet  manner:  "  Sit  down,  my  dear,  sit  down;  Gen.  Steele's 
troops  are  doing  this  complimentary  to  us  for  the  hospitality 
shown  him."  Gen.  Steele  left  the  table,  and  in  every  way  tried 
to  discover  who  set  the  building  on  tire,  and  failed.  Steele  was 
a  gentleman  always. 

31st.  This  morning  it  was  springlike,  but  after  a  while  far  distant 
thunder  was  heard.  Nearer  and  nearer  it  came,  until  at  last  the  storm 
burst  on  us  in  all  its  fury.  The  rain  was  violent,  accompanied  with  hail- 
stones as  large  as  hen's  eggs.  Next,  the  wind  veei-ed  around  to  the  north- 
west, and  it  became  very  cold  and  snow  fell.  After  dark  two  men  l)rought 
to  the  office  a  benevolent  man  from  Connecticut,  a  prisoner,  ami  .some  pa- 
pers that  were  found  on  his  person.  From  these  I  discovered  that  he  was 
cultivating  some  plantations  in  cotton  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  near 
Red  River.  That  he  had  permits  from  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  to  visit  his 
plantation  between  certain  gunboat  stations  at  will,  etc-.  He  was,  he  ar- 
gued, doing  the  work  of  a  Christian  in  cultivating  abandoned  lands, 
bringing  wealth  out  of  the  earth,  giving  employment  to  the  idle,  in  mak- 
ing the  slaves  work,  etc.  I  asked  him  whose  place  he  was  on,  or  made  his 
home.  He  told  me.  I  inquired  if  the  owner  was  on  the  plantation.  He 
replied  in  the  affirmative.  To  another  question  he  said  that  he  occupied 
the  dwelling  and  the  proprietor  the  ovei'seer's  house,  and  then  gave  the 
details  of  working  the  crop  and  dividing  the  same.  I  did  not  agree  with 
him,  and  told  the  guard,  who  had  heard  all,  to  put  him  in  the  guardhouse 
in  the  town.  They  wished  to  carry  him  to  i-amp.  I  would  not  permit  it. 
Next  day  I  sent  him  to  Gen.  Polk.  He  was  no  doubt  a  charitable  man.  for 
he  had  left  his  New  England  home,  and  was  kindly  cultivating  these  plan- 
tations to  prevent  theiu  from  growing  np  in  weeds  and  l)riers,  but  thei-e 
were  some f((cfs  that  up.set  his  //nnr/j  of  i)hilaiitlir<)py. 


188  Two  Waes. 

January  1,  1S(!4.  It  is  very  cold,  and  llic  fjround  is  frozen  liard.  I 
dined  at  Mr.  Proctor's.  Among  the  giu'sls  were  Drs.  Lanjjiey  and  Thorn- 
ton,  Capt.  Smith,  and  Mr.  Whitfield.     .     .     . 

7th.  Received  orders  to  move  my  eonimand  to  Meridian.  For  want  of 
transportation,  troops  were  not  sent  until  the  9th.  On  the  10th,  when  I 
left  Hrandon.  people  were  sliding,  and  some  skating,  on  the  ])ond  near  the 
depot.  Ice  two  inches  thick.  During  the  remainder  of  January  tliere  is 
nothing  in  my  diary  worth  recording  here. 

February  1.  This  morning  I  was  directeil  to  hold  my  division  in  readi- 
ness to  move  to  Jackson.  On  the  evening  of  the  2d  I  was  sent  for  liy  (Jen. 
Polk  and  told  to  move  as  soon  as  possible.  I  reached  Jackson  at  5  v.m.  on 
the  4th.  1  found  Gen.  S.  D.  Lee  about  sixteen  miles  in  front  of  Jackson 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  who  were  advancing  on  Jackson  under  Sher- 
man. Telegraphed  Gen.  Polk  that  the  enemy.  25,000  strong,  was  advan- 
cing, and  their  destination.  Meridian.  Also  wrote  him  to  the  same  etTect. 
I  had  now  in  Jackson  only  2,200  men,  and  I  luul  no  artillery  honses,  no  wag- 
ons, no  ambulances. 

5th.  In  constant  communication  with  Gen.  S.  1).  Lee  and  (ien.  Loring. 
I  informed  the  latter  that  the  enemy  would  be  in  Jackson  before  he  could 
get  here.  So  Loring  went  to  Madison  Station,  and  said  he  would  cross  the 
Pearl  river  at  Culley's  F^erry.  All  stores  were  now  sent  to  Meridian,  and 
stores  from  Brandon  were  ordered  to  be  sent  early.  The  enemy  pressed 
Lee  hard.  By  every  telegram  Lee  said  he  wished  to  swing  to  the  left  and 
not  cross  the  river,  and  remain  west  of  the  Pearl. 

I  telegra])hed  Gen.  Forrest  the  strength  and  position  of  the  eiuMuy.  In 
the  evening  I  received  a  dispatch  from  Polk  to  continue  labor  on  the  rail- 
road. Indiscreet  order  to  execute  to-day,  and  1  will  postpone  it.  At  4  p.m. 
I  crossed  the  river  and  started  the  troops  for  Brandon,  hastened  the  load- 
ing of  the  trains,  and  then  myself  and  staff  returned  to  the  city.  I  found 
the  Federal  troops  in  possession  of  the  western  part  of  the  town,  so  we 
turned  round  and  had  a  race  with  their  troops  for  the  bridge  (a  ))ontoon 
Ijridgc)  and  onlered  it  taken  up.  As  the  end  was  being  cut  loose  one  of 
Gen.  Lee's  staff  officers  (his  doctor)  sprung  his  hor.se  on  the  bridge  and 
cried  out  that  Lee's  force  was  in  the  city  and  would  have  to  cross  here. 
Replaced  it.  At  this  moment  the  enemy  lined  the  high  bank  and  opened 
fire  on  us.  We  soon  threw  some  of  the  i)lank  into  the  river  and  knocked 
the  bottoms  out  of  the  boats.  Lee  got  out  of  the  city  by  the  Canton  road. 
Under  fire  of  their  batteries,  in  the  dark,  the  infantiy  marched  for  Bran- 
don. Maj.  Storrs,  my  chief  of  artillery,  a  most  gallant  man,  was  left  be- 
hind to  get  his  honses  out  of  the  cars  and  bring  on  the  guns,  which  he  did 
under  fire  of  the  enemy.  I  left  a  squadron  of  cavalry  to  watch  the  ene- 
my at  \\w  crossing.     Next  day  I  moved  on  toward  Barrett's  mills. 

On  my  arrival  in  Jackson  I  telegraphetl  Lee  that  1  would  Join  him,  and 
ai.s<^  .sent  to  him  my  aid,  Yerger,  with  the  message  that  I  would  join  him 
and  risk  a  battle  if  he  advised  it.  He  thought  it  not  proper  to  do  so  con- 
sidering Loring  had  declined  to  give  battle.  On  the  7th,  moved  on  and 
encamped  near  Morton.     I  found  Loring  here  with  his  division. 

8th.     This  morning  Loring  placed  the  whole  force  present  at  my  com- 


The  W  a  inn  on  His  nop.  189 

nuind  to  f:uH'  uhout.  fonn  line  of  lialllc  iiiiil  give  the  enemy  a  fight.  I 
fonvicd  this-  line  two  miles  from  town.  Some  skirmishing  ensued.  We 
hekl  a  good  position  and  the  troops  weic  in  line  sj)irits,  but  the  enemy 
would  not  attaek  us.  At  a  eouneil  held  it  was  deemed  Itest  to  continue  to 
fall  back  and  await  the  arrival  of  Haldwin's  Hiigade  and  Lee  with  his  cav- 
alry, so  we  marched  all  night  to  Ilillsboro.  All  this  time  the  enemy  spread 
the  report  that  they  were  en  route  for  Mf)l)ile. 

!)th.  (ien.  Polk  arrived  this  morning.  He  had  been  at  Mobile,  caught 
the  I'ontagion,  and  ordered  me  at  once  to  Newton  Station  with  the  brigades 
of  Quarles,  McNair,  factor,  and  Cockrell,  there  to  take  trains  and  proceed 
to  Mobile,  take  command,  and  defend  the  city,  as  I  outranked  Gen.  Maury. 
After  a  tedious  march  all  night  we  reached  the  station,  thirty  miles  distant, 
byda.ybreak.  Here  I  found  trains  enough  for  the  brigades  of  Quarles  and 
McNair.  These  two  brigades,  after  arriving  at  Meridian,  were  carried  to 
Mobile.  AI)out  noon  Polk  arrived  and  told  me  to  remain,  as  Gen.  Maury 
was  sent  there  by  the  War  Department.     Loring  marched  by  dirt  road. 

11th.  This  afternoon  the  brigades  of  Ector  and  Cockrell,  and  the  re- 
maining batteries  left  for  Meridian,  where  we  ari-ived  before  dark.  These 
two  brigades  were  detained,  and  did  not  go  to  Mobile. 

14th.  At  7  P.M.  started  for  Almucha,  and  after  a  tedious  march  en- 
camped beyond  the  town.     Next  day  marched  to  Gaston. 

Kith.  Started  early  this  morning,  my  division  in  advance.  Gen.  Polk's 
headquarter  wagons  and  rows  took  the  road  to  Moscow,  and  we  to  Lewis's 
Ferry.  Reached  there  at  11  a.m.  Found  the  engineei'S  there  with  three 
steamers  and  three  (decked)  scows,  witli  whicla  to  make  a  pontoon  bridge 
over  the  Tombigbee.  It  was  apparent  that  they  would  not  span  the  river. 
The  steamer  Admiral  came  down  and  "rounded  to,"  and  then  started 
down  the  river  at  full  speed.  She  was  necessary  for  the  bridge,  so  I  sent 
the  steamer  Clipper  after  her.  with  Lieut.  Freeman  and  a  guard  on  board, 
to  capture  her.     She  w^as  oveitaken  six  miles  below  and  brought  l)ack. 

It  was  now  12  M.,  and  nothing  had  been  done  to  bridge  the  river.  My 
advanced  train  had  reached  the  river  at  2  P.  Ji.  the  day  previous,  and  were 
crossing  the  wagons  on  scows,  and  by  dusk  had  eighty  on  the  other  side. 
At  1:30  P.M.,  Gen.  Polk  arrived,  and  in  his  presence  I  remarked  to  the  en- 
gineer officer  that  "it  was  time  to  go  to  work,"  when  the  General  in  an 
abrupt  manner  said:  "If  Gen.  French  pleases,  I  have  given  my  orders." 
Be  that  as  it  may,  nothing  had  been  done  by  his  orders  to  get  the  army 
over,  and  there  would  have  been  no  bridge  had  I  not  caught  the  steamer 
Admiral.  When  at  last  the  bridge  was  finished,  all  my  division  train  had 
been  ferried  over  save  six  wagons,  and  it  was  about  2  .\.M.  l)efore  it  was 
all  over.     Then  Loring's  Division  had  to  cross. 

Gen.  Polk  liad  been  an  Episcopal  bishop,  and  enjt)ye(l  the  best 
the  land  afforded.  The  matin  songs  of  the  birds  disturbed  not 
his  morning  repose.  The  glorious  sun  rose  too  early  for  him  to 
see  it  from  the  mountain  top.  It  showed  its  face  there  at  an  un- 
seemly hour.      But  when  the  "drowsy  morn"  was  pa.ssed,  and 


190  Two  Wars. 

the  luilkinaid  lia<l  drawn  tril)iitt'  t'r(nn  tlie  cows,  and  the  coffee- 
pot was  stcaminiT  on  the  hearth,  and  tlie  liirht  rolls  were  hot  ])y 
the  tire,  and  the  })lunip,  line  capon,  with  sides  well  lined  with 
fat,  was  broiling'  on  the  coals,  sending  a  savory  odor  through 
the  apartments,  the  Bishop  would  arise,  his  face  radiant  with 
joy.  He  was  a  valiant  trencherman,  but  when  the  repast  was 
over  he  threw  aside  the  surplice.  The  priest  became  a  warrior 
when  he  girded  on  his  saber,  and  sallied  forth  a  paladin  in  the 
strife. 

During  all  the  lonjj  retreat  from  Jackson  to  this  place  we  have  done  but 
little  lighting  with  the  infantry.  IL  has  nearly  all  been  done  by  the  caval- 
ry and  artillery. 

18th.  Moved  to  Demopolis  and  encamped  there.  It  is  very  cold  and 
snow  is  falling.  Mr.  Fournier  gave  me  rooms  at  his  house.  He  came  to 
Demopolis  with  Gen.  Le  Febre,  who  came  to  the  United  States  after  the 
abdication  of  Napoleon.     I  received  letters  from  home. 

21st.  Went  to  Judge  Dixon's,  a  neighbor  of  mine,  antl  we  attended  di- 
vine service  at  the  Episcopal  Church.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Wilmer 
preached  an  eloquent  sermon.  The  congregation  is  under  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Beckwith,  who  formerly'  resided  on  Deer  Creek  and  was  acquainted 
with  my  family.     [He  was  afterwards  Bishop  of  Georgia.] 

36th.  Left  on  a  ten  days'  leave  of  absence  to  visit  Columbus,  (Ja.  On 
the  cars  were  Gens.  Hardee,  Loring,  Withers,  and  Walthall.  On  arrival 
in  Columbus  1  went  to  Gen.  A.  Ai^ercrombie's  in  Kussell  County,  Ala.; 
remained  there  till  Monday  morning,  and  arrived  in  Demopolis  on  the 
11th  of  March;  remained  in  camp  there  until  the  31st,  when  I  started  for 
Lauderdale  with  mj'  division.  In  Demo])olis  I  met  many  agreeable  fami- 
lies. Among  them  were  Mr.  Lyons,  Fournier,  Glovers,  Thornton,  Light- 
foot,  Inges,  Sheadwicks,  and  others.  I  remained  at  Lauderdale,  Miss.,  un- 
til the  20th  of  April,  when  I  received  orders  to  move  to  Tuscaloosa.  E7i 
rotite  I  passed  through  Gainesville,  and  entered  Tuscaloosa  on  the  2()th.  1 
reviewed  the  troops  one  morning  for  (icii.  Hodge,  and  the  same  day  I  re- 
viewed the  cadets  at  the  L^niversity  of  Alabama.  Among  the  pleasant  peo- 
ple I  met  in  Tuscaloosa  were  W.  S.  and  C.  M.  Foster,  Misses  Annie  Ficpiet, 
Belle  WoodrulT,  Ca.ssad\',  Edden,  Searcy,  and  others.  I  called  to  see  J.  E. 
Davis,  brother  of  the  President. 

On  the  4i/i  of  May  Oen.  rulk  iiuis  urdcnd  by  Adj.  (ien.  Cooper,  also  by 
Gen.  Johnston,  to  move  Gen.  Loring  and  all  available  force  to  Rome.  A 
consequence  of  these  orders  was  that  I,  being  at  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  received 
from  Polk,  at  Demopolis,  at  9  A.M.  on  the  5th,  orders  to  halt  Sears's  bri- 
gade, then  near  Selma,  and  send  it  to  Monlevallo,  a  stati(ui  on  the  rail- 
road to  Rome,  and  concentrate  my  division  at  Montevallo. 

At  the  liuH'  this  order  was  received  Cockrell's  Brigade  was 
partly  away  up  in  Norlli  Alabama   in  the  counties  of  Marion, 


LEONIUAS   POLK. 


MonxG  rsDKii  Dii'i-'iculties.  193 

Walker,  etc.,  by  order  of  (Jen.  Polk.  Ector's  Brigude  was  with 
me  in  Tuscaloosa,  and  Sears's  north  of  Selma.  Immediately  or- 
ders were  ofiven  to  concentrate,  as  may  he  found  in  "War  Rec- 
ords," Vol.  88,  Part  IV.,  and  in  this  volume  will  be  found  many 
orders  and  letters  pertaining  to  this  movement. 

(iren.  Sears's  Briirade,  on  May  5,  was  nearer  Home  than  Lor- 
ing  at  Demopolis,  and  was  at  Montevallo  on  the  !>tli  when  Gen. 
Polk  arrived  there,  and  could  hare  been  sent  in/fJi  Jinn  to  Resaca 
had  transportation  been  ])rovided.  My  diary  records  these  vex- 
atious delays,  and  that  the  superintendent  of  the  railroad  re- 
ceived no  orders  to  move  my  division  until  Tuesday,  the  10th, 
and  that  he  was  to  have  the  cars  there  on  Thursday,  the  12th. 
Polk's  administrative  ability  was  not  largely  developed  so  as  to 
anticipate  the  plainest  necessity  for  coming  events  if  he  were  ac- 
countable for  these  delays  and  others. 

May  7.  We  left  Tuscaloosa  for  Montevallo.  I  found  there  the  brigade 
of  Mississippians,  commanded  by  Gen.  Sears,  that  is  to  form  a  part  of  my 
division.  On  the  9th  Oen.  Polk,  arrived.  He  directed  that  live  da_vs'  rations 
be  cooked  at  once,  and  that  Sears's  Brigade  should  leave  that  afternoon  for 
Blue  Mountain  by  railroad.  How  easy  it  is  to  talk  about  such  things  1 
There  was  no  meal  at  the  commissary's  and  no  cars  for  the  troops. 

10th.  No  trains  yet;  raining  hard;  Ector's  Brigade  arrived.  Sent  all 
the  artillery  horses  t)y  wagon  road. 

11th.  Rain,  rain,  and  thunder,  anil  no  trains  3'et  for  the  troops.  I  won- 
der if  there  is  a  commander  of  this  department. 

12th.  No  trains  yet.  I  resolved  to  march  the  troops,  but  met  Col.  Se- 
vier, of  Polk's  staff,  and  he  assures  me  that  he  will  have  transportation. 
Some  of  my  men  got  on  a  passing  train.  I  am  infoi'med  that  no  grain  was 
sent  up  last  night  for  the  artillery  horses.  Can  it  be  that  Gen.  Polk  knows 
nothing  about  these  matters? 

13th.  To-day  i  got  the  remainder  of  Sears's  Brigade  off;  and  through 
the  night.  Ector's  troops.  Cockrell  arrived  with  his  brigade.  I  had  sent 
him,  by  order  of  Gen.  Polk,  north  of  Tuscaloosa  on  an  important  expedi- 
tion. 

Struck  tents  and  left  for  Blue  Mountain.  Seal's  was  thirty-six  hours  on 
a  train.     Such  delays  were  distressing. 

Rode  this  morning,  the  16th,  into  Rome.  Yesterday  the  enemy's  caval- 
alry  was  within  two  miles  of  the  city.  Gen.  Sears  arrived,  and  at  10  I'.M. 
his  brigade  was  sent  on  the  cars  to  Kingston. 

17th.  Sent  two  batteries  by  dirt  road,  also  by  trains,  to  Kingston. 
About  1  P.M.  to-day,  as  I  was  ])utting  Ector's  Brigade  on  the  cai'S  for  King- 
ston, I  was  informed  Ijj'  Brigadier  l)avid.son  that  the  (inemy  was  within 
two  miles  of  the  town,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Oostanoula  river,  and  that 
he  had  but  one  hundred  and  llfty  men  (mounted)  to  check  them. 
18 


194  Tiio  U'Ah's. 

That  you  may  tlie  hcttcr  (•oinijrc'hcnd  llic  situation  of  troops. 
Federal  and  Confederate.  I  will  state  that  on  the  Dith  (Jen. 
Johnston,  on  his  retreat  from  Daltou,  had  reached  Resaca,  a  town 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Oostanonla,  and  was  there  attacked  by 
Gen.  Sherman  on  the  14th  and  l.")th.  On  the  l.^th  iSherman's 
army  began  crossing  the  river,  and  our  troops  alst).  On  the  KJth 
both  armies  were  south  of  the  river,  Johnston's  force  falling 
l)a('k  on  Kingston  and  the  Federals  in  ])ursuit.  Polk,  with  Lor- 
ing's  Division,  was  with  Johnston  at  Resaca,  and  t\yo  Ijrigades 
of  mine  would  have  been  there  only  for  the  want  of  transporta- 
tion at  ]MoutevalIo  as  stated. 

So  when  I  found  the  enemy  at  Rome,  no  alternative  presented 
itself  but  to  put  Ector  in  the  trenches  over  the  Oostanoula,  and 
hold  the  town  until  Cockrell  arrived,  who  was,  in  the  morning, 
thirty-two  miles  distant.  A  strong  line  of  skirmishers  was  ad- 
vanced, which  was  soon  engaged  with  the  enemy.  During  the 
afternoon  Gen.  J.  T.  Morgan  arrived  and  said  that  his  conunand 
was  en  route  to  Rome  from  Adairsville,  and  that  he  and  Gen.  Fur- 
gerson  were  both  hard  pressed  by  the  enemy.  At  4  p.m.  (len. 
Ross  (cavalry)  arrived  with  two  i-egiments.  The  men  were  dis- 
mounted and  placed  on  the  hills.  Davitlson,  with  a  few  caval- 
ry, moved  on  the  enemy's  right.  Then,  at  6  p.m..  Ross,  with 
his  men,  charged  their  line  of  skirmishers  and  drove  them  l)ack 
to  the  main  line.  Iloskins,  with  two  guns  and  all  the  fragments 
of  dismounted  men  and  the  like,  was  placed  on  the  hills  north  of 
the  town  on  the  left  l)ank  of  the  river  to  at  least  intimidate  the 
Federals.  In  this  tight  I  did  not  lose  over  one  hundred  men,  and 
they  were  mainly  from  Ross's  Brigade. 

During  all  this  day  constant  comnnmications  passed  between 
me  and  Gens.  Polk  and  Johnston  urging  me  not  to  fail  to  join 
the  retreating  army.  Cockrell's  Brigade  arrived  at  dusk,  hav- 
ing marched  thirty-two  miles,  and  were  at  once  furnished  cars 
and  started  for  Kingston  at  10  p.m.  Ector's  Brigade  reached 
Kingston  at  T:  80  a.m.  Before  we  left  Rome  I  had  all  the  horses, 
stores,  sick,  and  wounded  removed.  When  we  reached  Kingston, 
on  the  18th,  I  found  (ien.  Johnston  moving,  with  his  army,  to 
Cassville,  and  1  marched  my  division  there  also,  and  joined  (Jen. 
Polk  and  encamped  near  head<|uarters. 

It  was  an  ei'roi'  to  not  have  had  Polk's  (\)r|)s  concentrated  and 
well   in  hand  lo  unite  with  flohnston  to  op])ose  Sherman's  ad- 


Separated  Forces.  195 

vuncc  from  Dultoii,  consideriiii!:  llic  iiiontli  of  May  was  passing 
and  the  lime  for  active  movements  had  arrived.  As  it  was,  they 
were  widely  separated.  On  tlie  4tli  of  May  Gen.  Polk  was  or- 
dered to  concentrate  his  command  at  Rome.  P'rom  causes  noted 
in  my  diary  the  last  brigade  did  not  reach  there  until  the  17th. 
With  (Jen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  above  Dalton.Ga.,  in  command  of  a 
hundred  thousand  men.  it  behooved  eithei-  the  War  Department 
at  Richmond,  or  (Jen.  fJ.  K.  .Johnston,  in  command  of  the  Army 
of  Tennessee,  to  have  concentrated  the  Army  of  Mississippi  un- 
der the  command  of  (len.  Polk,  and  held  it  ready  to  join  the 
Army  of  Tennessee;  whereas  it  was  widely  separated.  April 
26,  I  was  in  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  and  ordered  by  Gen.  Polk  to  send 
a  brigade  north  to  the  counties  as  stated.  The  consequence  of 
all  this  was  only  one  division  of  the  Army  of  Mississippi  reached 
Johnston  l)ef()re  the  battle  of  Resaca  was  fought,  on  May  13-1.5. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Cassville — The  Line  of  Battle — Hood's  I^ine  NotKnliladed — History  of  that 
Conference — Two  Lieutenant  Generals  Invite  Their  Commander  to  a 
Council  of  War — Johnston  Obli<jed  to  Fall  Back — We  Cross  the  Etowah 
River— Dallas — New  Hope  Church — Constant  Fightinjj — Rain.  Rain — 
Death  of  Lieut.  Gen.  Polk — Battle  of  the  Latimer  House — My  Division 
Occupies  Little  and  Big  Kennesaw  Mountains — The  Battle^Incidents 
of  the  Battle — Confederates  Save  Wounded  Union  .Soldiers  from  Burn- 
ing— Kennesaw  During  Night  Bombardment — ^Col.  Martin's  Noble  Con- 
duct— The  Irony  of  Fate — Maj.  Poten  and  French  Soldier. 

It  will  be  seen  that  of  those  troops  under  Hood  that  were 
maneii\erin<j  to  attack  the  enemy  advancinjr  on  our  riofht, 
1  was  the  last  to  leave  the  position  east  of  Cassville,  for  the 
whole  line  of  battle  was  formed  before  I  fell  back,  and  I  would 
have  been  in  reserve  entirely  had  Hood,  as  he  should  have  done, 
extended  his  line  to  the  left  until  it  touched  Canty's  Division. 

May  19.  18G4.  This  morning  the  army  was  formed  in  line  of  Vjattle.  At 
first  I  was  on  the  extreme  right,  l)ut  soon  after,  by  change  of  dispositions, 
I  occupied  the  line  from  the  hills,  on  l..oring's  right,  across  the  valley  to 
the  top  of  the  first  hill  on  my  right.  Hood's  Corps  was  on  my  right,  ma- 
neuvering to  attack  the  enemy,  but  from  some  cause  no  flght  was  made. 
After  this  line  was  formed  Cockrell,  who  w^as  in  reserve,  was  placed  on  a 
range  of  hills  south  of  Cassville,  and  behind  the  tOAvn.  At  4  P.M.,  I  was 
ordered  to  fall  back  and  form  belibid  the  division  of  (ien.  Canty  and  Cock- 
rell's  Brigade,  which  1  did.  But  as  there  was  an  interval  between  Hood's 
line  and  (Janty  without  troops.  I  jjlaced  there  in  position  Hoskin's  Bat- 
tery and  half  of  Ector's  Brigade.  This  left  me  Sears's  Brigade  and  half  of 
Ector's  Brigade  in  reserve.  Then  came  an  order  adding  to  my  command 
the  division  of  Canty,  which  was  directly  in  front  of  me.  Cockrell,  on 
Canty's  left,  was  put,  for  the  occasion,  under  the  orders  of  Loring. 

About  5  i'..M.  our  pickets  from  the  extreme  front  were  driven  in  toward 
the  second  line  by  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Hoskin's  Battery  opened  on  the 
cavalry  and  checked  them.  About  o:80  i'..m.  the  Federals,  liaving  placed 
.some  batteries  in  position  (jn  a  ridge  in  front  of  Hood's  right.  ()])ened  (ire 
on  our  line,  anrl  the  shells  from  theii"  extreme  left  (in. /ro?//  of  Hood's  right) 
enfiladed  Hoskin's  gun  and  the  line  that  for  a  little  while  curved  out  to  the 
l)attery.  Hood's  line  was  not  a  prolongation  of  Polk's  line,  because  it  fell 
back,  at  the  point  of  junction  about  twenty-live  degrees.  [See  map  in  the 
"War  Records."] 

After  dark,  as  1  was  returning  from dinnt-r.  I  met  (Jen.  Hood,  who  asked 
me  to  ride  over  with  him  to  see  (ien.  Johnston  at  (i(!ii.  I'ulks  hcadcpiar- 
ters,  and  take  suppei'. 


198  Tno  ]VAiis. 

^\'llcn  supper  was  oxfr  Hood  and  I'olk  asked  flohnsloii  to  a 
confereiK-e  that  they  had  previously  ai-ran^jfed.  and  .Johnston 
asked  me  to  o;o  Nvith  him.  At  the  eonfereiice,  at  this  time,  liar- 
dee  /rtfs  not  present.  Hood  commenced  by  declaring  that  his 
line  and  Polk's  line  were  so  entiladed  by  the  Federal  ai'tillery 
that  they  could  not  be  held.  Polk  was  not  so  strenuous,  rlohn- 
ston  insisted  on  tiirhtinjr,  and  my  diary  says: 

At  !l  I'.M.  it  was.  I  am  suro.  determined  to  tight  at  Cassville.  and,  after 
remaining  at  the  conference  sometime  longer,  I  hastened  to  camp  to  en- 
trencli.  .Soon  after  it  was  intimated  to  me  by  an  ollicer  riding  along  past 
me  that  we  would  fall  hack,  owing  to  the  enemy  moving  so  far  on  our 
left. 

20th.  At  midnight  we  commenced  to  leave  our  position.  Skirmishers 
were  left,  and  a  few  men  in  the  trenches  were  given  axes  to  fell  trees  to 
deceive  the  enemy  and  drown  the  noise  made  in  w  ithdr.-iwing  the  ai'til- 
lery. 

I  am  obliged,  before  I  proceed  any  fiu'thcr,  to  make  a  disfres- 
sion  here  in  reference  to  the  proi'cedinirs  of  this  conference  by 
reason  of  what  has  l>een  i)ublished  aboid  it. 

Johnston,  in  his  "Narrative,''  ofives  his  version  of  what  oc- 
curred, and  so  far  as  wdiat  took  place  it  is  maiidy  correct.  Hood, 
in  his  "Advance  and  Retreat,'"  makes  an  incorrect  statement  of 
the  condition  of  his  line,  and.  whilst  I  was  there,  made  no  refer- 
ence to  bein<r  in  a  ii^ood  ])osition  for  actin<r  <>n  the  aijirressive  and 
makin<2:  an  attack.  His  memory  is  defective,  because  in  a  let- 
ter of  his,  written  to  me  ten  years  after,  he  had  entirely  forscot- 
ten  that  I  was  present  at  the  conference.  Then  ajrain,  in  Octo- 
l)er.  iS!>-t.  there  a])i)eared  in  the  New  Orleans  /'/Vv/y//'  an  anon- 
ymous article  that  endeavored  to  transfer  Polk's  concurrence 
with  Hood  to  not  titjht  on  to  my  shotdders.  It  was  so  entirely 
erroneous — nay,  purely  imajgi^inative — that  it  recjuired  me  to  no- 
tice it  for  the  benefit  of  my  children,  and  it  can  be  foimd  in  the 
Soiif/nrii  IIlsf(>r!c<il  M(i(i(ix'n\<\  Vol.  XXII..  paijes  1  to  1>,  pub- 
lished in  Richmond.  \'a..  danuary   I)ecemt)er.  18tH. 

I  rejri'ct  that  this  fabidous  /Vr7///////r  article,  emanating  in  New 
Orleans,  was  ever  written  on  account  of  (ien.  Polk.  It  made 
him  ap))ear  to  Ix-  a  weak  man. 

21st.  Yesterday  we  crossed  the  Etowah  river  and  encamped  at  an  iron 
furnace  in  charge  of  Gen.  (i.  W.  Smith,  wlio  had  resigned  from  the  army. 
Remained  in  camp  all  day.     There  was  some  firing  in  the  evening  on  the 


ShVKRE  Fkuiting.  199 

river  lu-low  u  licrc  uc  crossed.  I  received  orders  to  he  ready  to  move  in 
any  direction. 

28d.  Left  Allatooiia  to-day  at  noon  and  niarclied  until  dusk,  then  en- 
cani])ed  for  the  ni<j;ht. 

24tli.  Started  at  4  a.m.  and  inarched  westerly  toward  Dallas.  En- 
camped in  line  of  l)att]e.     Heard  guns  in  the  direction  of  Dallas. 

25th.  This  morning  I  moved  still  farther  toward  Dallas.  Enemy  re- 
ported on  the  road  from  Rome,  striking  for,  or  below,  Atlanta.  In  the 
evening  I  rode  along  our  front.  I  met  Gen.  Johnston  while  riding  toward 
New  Hope  Church.  The  enemy  made  an  attack  on  Gen.  Hood's  fi-ont.  I 
returned  immediately  to  hasten  up  my  command,  and  arrived  about  dark 
in  the  midst  of  a  thunderstorm.  After  placing  troop  in  ])osition  during  the 
night.  I  .slept  by  the  roadside  under  shelter  of  a  fence. 

2Gth.  Assumed  line  of  battle  and  passed  the  day  in  intrenching.  Cheat- 
ham is  on  my  right  ami  ("anty  on  my  left.  During  the  night  (Jheatham 
moved  to  the  left,  and  on  tlie  37th  I  extended  in  that  tlirection.  In  the 
afternoon  there  was  an  attack  on  Gen.  Hood,  which  he  repulsed.  At  mid- 
night I  received  orders  to  move  my  division  to  the  right  to  relieve  the  di- 
vision of  Gen.  Stevenson,  which  was  not  completed  until  4  a.m.  I  foiuid  the 
line  a  miserable  one,  and  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  within  twenty  yards 
of  the  lines.  I  relieved  his  skirmishers  and  his  division  left.  The  Yan- 
kees called  this  place  "hell  hole,"  because,  among  other  things,  we  shot 
twenty-one  of  their  men,  one  after  the  other,  in  one  ritle  pit.  Soon  after 
sunrise  the  Federals  opened  fire  with  infantry  and  artillery,  and  during 
the  day  it  increased,  and  once  I  thought  we  had  to  repulse  a  charge  on  the 
line.  A  great  many  shells  have  passed  overhead  and  some  through  the 
top  of  a  little  apple  tree  at  the  foot  of  which  we  are  sitting.  They  come 
without  invitation.  During  the  night  there  was  such  firing  that  I  got  up 
to  ascertain  if  they  were  driving  Loring's  picket  line  in.  on  my  right  over 
the  valley.     I  will  remember  New  Hope  Church. 

21>th.  Firing  not  so  heavy  to-day  as  yesterday.  I  rode  over  to  Gen. 
Polk's  at  5  A.M.  Yesterday  thei-e  was  an  attack  on  the  left  made  by  Gen. 
Bate,  and  on  the  right  by  Gen.  Wheeler.  My  line  is  a  hard  one  to  defend. 
In  the  evening  after  dark  I  was  sent  for  by  Gen.  Polk,  and  found  him  at 
Gen.  Johnston's.  While  there  the  enemy  made  an  attack  on  Canty 
and  my  left.  The  firing  was  severe.  During  the  night  there  was  con- 
tinuous fii'ing  on  the  left,  and  after  midnight  heavy  artillery  firing.  Ow- 
ing to  the  condition  of  the  atmosphere,  the  roar  of  the  guns  was  increased, 
and  the  sound  of  bursting  shells  overhead  was  like  nearby  thunder,  while 
the  glare  makes  night  hideous,  conse(iuently  I  got  no  sleep.  This  is  get- 
ting to  be  interesting  now.  l)ut  the  play  is  too  long,  it  takes  all  night. 

80th.  Col.  Riley,  a  most  gallant  officer,  is  killed.  There  is  trouble 
again  on  Canty's  line.  Some  i)eople  are  always  in  trouble.  After  dinner  I 
went  to  Gen.  Johnston's,  and  he  sent  me  to  examine  Canty's  line.  There 
is  not  much  firing  to-night.  The  enemy's  line  is  close  to  ours  in  front  of 
Canty.     We  want  engineers.     [Next  day  nothing  to  relate.] 

June  1.  I  wrote  to  headcjuarters  for  tubes  for  Enfield  rilles.  This  morn- 
ing there  is  an  artillery  iluel  going  on  between  one  of  our  batteries  and 


^'^A'.  ECTOli    WoUSDHI).  201 

those  of  the  enemy.  Eiioniious  trees  are  falling  from  the  shot.  I  formed 
an  engineer  company,  and  put  ('apt.  Venet  in  command  of  it.  I  exam- 
ined the  whole  line.  Canty  withdrew  his  line  last  night,  leaving  mine  to 
be  maintained,  now  (luitc  six  hundred  yards  in  advance,  connected  only 
by  their  cross  line. 

2d.  Gen.  Ector  was  wounded  this  afternoon.  An  awful  thunderstorm 
came  up.  the  peals  of  thunder  were  frightful,  and  the  Yankee  ti'ied  to 
drown  it  with  mimic  artillery,  as  if  one  at  a  time  was  not  divertisemeut 
enough.  Some  people  can't  be  satisfied.  The  ditch  is  filled  up  to  some 
depth  with  water.  Over  this  I  sleep  on  one  board  with  my  face  turned  up 
to  the  glare  of  the  shells  that  shine  through  the  closed  eyelids. 

3d.  Firing  as  usual,  and  the  enemy  naoving  to  our  right.  Another 
heavy  thunderstorm  is  in  progress.  The  roar  of  artillery  shakes  the  rain 
out  of  tlie  clouds.  We  drove  in  the  enemy's  skirmish  line.  One  consola- 
tion the  staff  says  we  have  is  that  no  one  comes  to  see  us;  the  ride  is  not 
interesting.  We  see  no  one.  and  get  no  orders.  That  there  is  good  in  ev- 
erything, including  shells,  is  their  doctrine.  This  battle  has  now  lasted 
ten  daj's. 

4th.  Rain  again  this  morning.  It  was  a  disagreeable  night  in  the 
trenches.  There  is  firing  in  front.  I  have  good  news  from  Virginia.  At 
4  P.M.  I  received  orders  to  withdraw  our  lines.  It  is  raining  to-night. 
This,  with  previous  rains,  rendered  the  roads  as  bail  as  they  can  well  be. 
and  the  night  was  very  dark.  Mud,  mud  everywhere,  and  the  soldiers 
sink  over  their  shoe  tops  at  every  stej).  It  took  seven  hours  to  move  six 
miles.  At  7  a.m.  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  we  were  in  line  of  l)attle  on 
Lost  Mountain. 

6th.  I  obtained  a  good  night's  rest.  This  morning  I  had  to  change  the 
line  of  battle.  The  view  from  this  lone  mountain  top  is  beautiful.  It  is 
about  nine  miles  east  of  Mai*ietta.  It  swells  from  the  plain  solitary  and 
lone  to  the  height  of  six  hundred  feet,  affording  a  fine  bird's-eye  view  of 
the  surrounding  country.  To  the  north  the  encampments  of  the  enemy 
are  spread  out  below,  and  from  hundreds  of  campfires  the  blue  smoke  rises 
to  fioat  awa,y  as  gently  as  though  all  were  j>eaceful.  Beneath  this  silver 
cloud  that  hangs  around  the  mountain,  there  is  an  angry  brow;  the  de- 
mons of  war  are  there. 

7th.  I  slept  in  camp  in  the  rear  of  the  mountain,  and  for  once  all  is 
•quietness.  At  10  a.m.  I  was  ordered  to  the  extreme  right,  and  to  the  left 
at  1  P.M.  All  the  information  I  can  deduce  from  a  single  equation,  to 
which  I  have  redwced  Jive  orders  received  verbally  from  Polk's  staff,  is: 
X  equal  to  a  line  to  be  formed  in  a  dense  wood  73  degrees  northeast.  I 
found  Loring  plunging  about  in  (juest  of  some  center  that  is  movable,  and 
as  invisible  as  the  North  Pole.  As  I  could  not  determine  the  value  of  X  at 
dark,  I  concluded  to  sleep  the  matter  over  on  the  ground  where  I  am. 

8th.  This  morning  Maj.  Prestman,  engineer,  examined  the  ground  for 
my  line.  It  is  a  weak,  faulty,  miserable  line.  The  engineer  took  all  my 
tools  yesterday,  so  to-day  I  am  unable  to  construct  any  wprk^.  I  have  re.- 
ported  the  matter  to  (Jen.  Polk,  but  he  is  so  much  engrossed  with  fine-spun 
tlieories  that  he  fails  to  attend  to  things  requiring  prompt  attention. 


202  7'h-o  n\,ns. 

Weill  just  think  of  itl  This  staff  of  iiiiiu'.  uni'easonable  fellows,  wish 
they  were  back  in  the  trenches  again.  \\  here,  for  about  eight  days,  they 
were  not  troubled  with  orders.  Judge  Wright  came  to  see  me.  I  have  a 
high  reganl  for  him.  and  have  seen  him  scleral  times  lately.  He  is  from 
'reunessee. 

9th.  Everything  was  (luiet  last  night,  and  I  heard  no  guns  until  8  p.m. 
My  division  was  ordered  to  follow  Loring's  toward  the  railroad.  Contra- 
dictory orders  again  from  Gen.  Polk's  statT.  I  got  into  ])osition  at  dark, 
and  was  called  U])  at  2  a.m.  to  cliange  again  1)V  moving  Ector's  Brigade  to 
the  right. 

10th.  Some  skirmishing  and  artillery  liring  this  morning.  At  1  r.M.  a 
violent  thunderstorm  came  up.  and  the  rain  fell  until  dark.  I  believe  it 
has  rained  now  nine  days  in  succession.  The  enemy  is  i-eported  advan- 
cing to-day,  and  the  iiring  shows  it.  In  the  evening  I  rode  on  the  picket 
line  with  Gen.  Ector.     Firing  continued  until  darU. 

11th.     Rain. 

12th.  Rain  once  more,  and  everything  is  drenched.  Enemy  tiring  with 
artillery  from  my  front  toward  Kennesaw  Mountain. 

i:5tli.  Terrible  rain  last  night  and  all  day  to-day  till  noon.  Eleven  days' 
rain!  If  it  keeps  on,  there  will  be  a  storj'^  told  like  unto  that  in  the  Bible, 
only  it  will  read. 

It  mined  forty  days  iind  it  I'uined  forly  nijrhts, 
And  the  ark  it  rested  on  ttie  Kennesaw  lieights; 

For  to  that  place  we  are  floating,  it  seems  to  me. 

14th.  This  morning,  by  written  onlers  (I  am  glad  they  have  found  pa- 
per to  write  on),  Loring  went  to  the  right,  t'anty  from  the  left  to  the  cen- 
ter, and  I  extended  to  the  right.  No  rain  I  Telegram  of  Forrest's  victory. 
During  the  morning  1  rode  over  to  Gen.  Polk's  quarters  and  asked  him 
(when  Gen.  Johnston  rode  with  him  to  our  left)  to  come  down  my  line. 
He  said  probably  he  would  do  so.  Alas!  "man  proposes,  (4od  disposes." 
T  heai'd  at  12  m.  that  he  had  been  killed.  1  .sent  an  otlicer  to  his  headquar- 
ters, and  he  returned  saying  that  the  iv])ort  was  true.  I  then  went  imme- 
diately to  his  cam))  and  found  that  his  remains  had  been  sent  to  Marietta. 
I  was  very  much  shocked  at  his  untimely  fate.  A  universal  sadness  seemed 
to  rest  on  the  countenance  of  every  one.  He  had  accompanied  Johnston 
to  the  left  and  gone  on  Pine  Mountain,  and  while  in  front  of  our  lines  the 
party  was  fired  on  by  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  the  third  shot  tired 
struck  the  General  on  the  left  side  and  killed  him  instantly.  Thus  died  a 
gentleman  and  a  high  Church  dignitary.  As  a  soldier  he  w'as  more  theo- 
retical than  ))ractical. 

I  was  ordered  last  night  to  be  in  readiness  for  an  advance  of  the  enemy 
at  o  A.M.     He  came  not. 

ir)th.  All  quiet  at  sunrise.  Soon  after  desultory  liring  commenced 
along  the  line  and  continued  until  3  r.M.,  when  it  became  quite  heavy. 
P'eatherston  had  his  skirmishers  driven  in  to  their  ranks.  At  9  p.m.  ray 
skirmish  line  was  attacked  unsuccessfully. 

16th.  Early  this  morning  the  enemy  o])ene(l  on  my  front  with  a  liat- 
tery,  and  at  10  a.m.  th(n  shelled  the  ))icket  line  and  skirmish  line  very  se- 


The  Two  Kenesa  ws.  203 

vert'l.v.  At  H  p.m.  tliey  ajjaiii  slicUcil  my  liiK'  for  ;m  hour  uitliout  .serious 
damage.  C'ockrell  is  lield  in  re.serve  for  Gen.  Hardee,  aud  tlius  I  am  eon- 
stautly  holding  a  reserve  for  some  one  else;  never  yet  has  a  brigade  been 
held  for  me.  and  never,  not  onee.  liave  I  asked  for  assistance. 

17th.  The  now  monotonous  artillery  awakened  us  this  morning  ta 
reveille  before  we  had  made  any  parched for  coH'ee.  the  unfeeling  hire- 
lings of  toute  du  monde!  Last  night  all  the  troops  on  my  left  swung  back 
and  took  a  new  line  that  placed  me  in  command  of  a  salient  with  an  angle 
of  about  eighty-five  degrees,  liable  to  be  enfiladed  and  taken  in  reverse. 

18th.  Eai'ly  this  morning  both  pickets  and  skirmishers  on  my  left  (Walk- 
er's Division)gave  way  andlet  the  Federals  in  belli  ndCockrelTs  skirmishers, 
and  thus  the  enemy  gained  possession  of  the  Latimar  Hou.se  in  my  front.  Ec- 
tor'sBrigade  skirmishers  also  came  in.  The  way  beingclear.  theenem^^soon 
advanced  in  line  of  battle,  and  with  many  guns  entiladed  my  line  all  day. 
This  constant  firing  never  ceased,  but  I  could  not  induce  them  to  come  out 
and  make  an  assault  on  my  front  with  infantry,  and  ere  night  came  my 
loss  was  315  men.  Capt.  Guibor's  Battery  has  lost  more  men  (13)  to-day 
than  it  did  during  the  entire  siege  of  Vicksburg.  Men  became  in  time  so 
familiar  with  danger  and  death  that,  Gallio-like.  they  "care  for  none  of 
those  things.'"  Toward  evening  I  was  ordered  to  withdraw  from  this  line 
anil  occup3'  Kennesaw  Mountain.     This  was  done  during  tlie  night. 

19th.  Early  this  morning  the  enemy  followed  us,  and  soon  the  skir- 
mishing commenced,  and  by  noon  the  artillery  tire  was  severe.  It  ranged 
up  the  slope  and  over  the  mountain  with  gi-eat  fur}',  and  wounded  Gen. 
Cockrell,  and  thirty-five  of  his  men  were  hor!<  du  combat. 

The  position  of  our  army  to-day  is:  Hooti  is  on  our  right  covering  Ma- 
rietta or  the  northwest.  From  his  left  Polk's  Corps  (now  Loring's)  ex- 
tends over  both  Big  and  Little  Kennesaw  Mountains,  with  the  left  on  the 
road  from  Gilgal  Church  to  Marietta.  From  this  road  Hardee  extends  the 
line  nearly  south,  covering  Marietta  on  the  west.  The  left  of  my  division 
was  established  on  the  Marietta  ro.ad:  thence  it  ran  up  thespiu".  or  incline, 
of  the  mountain  called  Little  or  West  Kennesaw,  and  thence  to  the  toj)  of 
the  same;  thence  on  uj)  to  the  top  of  Big  Kennesaiv.  where  it  connected 
with  Gen.  Walthall's  troops.  Featherston  was  on  the  right  of  Walthall 
and  joined  Gen.  Hood.  Walker,  of  Hardee's  Corps,  was  on  my  left.  Then 
in  order.  Bate,  Cleburne,  aud  Cheatham  came. 

Kennesaw  Mountain  is  about  four  miles  northwest  of  Marietta,  It  is 
over  two  and  a  lialf  miles  in  length,  and  rises  abru])tly  from  the  plain,  sol- 
itary and  alone,  to  the  height  of  perhaps  seven  hundred  feet.  Its  north- 
western side  is  rocky  and  al)rupt.  On  the  northerly  and  southerly  ex- 
tremities it  can  be  gained  on  horseback.  Little  Kennesaw.  being  bald  and 
destitute  of  timber,  affords  a  commanding  view  of  all  the  surrounding 
country  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  except  where  the  view  is  hidden  by 
the  higher  peak.  The  view  from  this  elevation  embraces  Lost  Mountain, 
Pine  Mountain,  and  all  the  beautiful  cultivated  plain,  dotted  here  and 
there  with  farmhouses,  extending  to  the  Allatoona  Mountains,  a  spur  of 
tlie  (Jreat  Smoky  Mountains  of  North  Carolina. 

'20th.     Busy  this  morning  in  establishing  batteries  to  command  the  road. 


A  Deserted  Camp.  205 

aud  others  uu  llio  line  extciidiii^  up  the  inouiitaiii  aiul  on  the  toj)  of  Little 
Kennesaw.  I  changed  the  line  of  iiifaiiti\v  lower  down  the  side  of  the 
mountain  fronting  the  enemy,  so  as  to  command  the  ascent  down  as  far  as 
possible.     Lost  ten  horses  and  a  few  men  killed  an<l  wounded  to-day. 

21st.  I  went  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  this  morning,  and  while  there 
witnessed  an  artillery  duel  between  the  batteries  on  Hardee's  lines  and 
those  of  the  enemy  in  front  of  it.  Rather  interesting  to  look  down  upon, 
and  more  exciting  than  a  grand  display  of  fireworks. 

33d.  The  constant  rains  have  ceased,  the  sky  is  clear,  and  the  sun,  so 
long  hid.  now  shines  out  brightly.  Skirmishing  (I  am  tired  of  that  word) 
on  my  line  last  night.  T  rode  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  quite  early,  to 
where  1  had  placed  nine  guns  in  position.  During  the  night  the  enemy 
had  moved  a  camp  close  to  the  base  of  the  mountain.  It  was  the  head- 
quarters of  some  general  otlicers.  Tent  walls  were  raised,  officers  sitting 
around  on  camp  stools,  orderlies  coming  and  going,  wagons  i)arked,  sol- 
diers idling  about  or  resting  in  the  shade  of  the  trees,  and  from  the  cook 
fires  arose  the  odors  of  breakfast,  and  all  this  at  our  very  feet.  It  was  tan- 
talizing, that  breakfast,  not  to  be  tolerated.  So  I  directed  the  powder  in  a 
number  of  cartridges  for  the  guns  to  be  reduced,  so  as  to  drop  the  shells 
into  the  camp  below  us.  I  left  them  in  their  fancied  security — for  no  doubt 
they  believed  that  we  could  not  place  artillery  on  the  height  above  them, 
and  they  were  not  visible  to  our  infantry  on  the  mountain  side  by  reason 
of  the  timber.  How  comfortable  they  appeared,  resting  in  the  shade  and 
smoking!  At  length  the  gunners,  impatient  of  delay,  were  permitted  to 
open  fire  on  them.  Thunder  from  the  clear,  blue  sky  could  not  have  sur- 
prised them  more.  They  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  stood  not  on  the  order 
of  their  going,  but  left  quickly,  every  man  for  himself,  and  soon  "their 
tents  were  all  silent,  their  banners  alone."  like  Sennacherib's  of  old,  and 
there  was  a  deserted  camp  all  this  da}'. 

The  enemy  appeared  this  morning  to  be  moving  permanently  to  our 
left,  and  the  firing  in  the  afternoon  extended  farther  in  that  direction. 
Toward  dark  I  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  batteries:  also  again  at  11  I'.M. 

23d.  Yesterday  Gen.  Cockrell  had  fourteen  men  wounded.  During  the 
night  the  enemy  removed  their  tents,  wagons,  etc.,  from  their  abandoned 
encampment  that  was  shelled  yesterday,  and  the  place  looks  desolate.  At 
10  A.M.,  when  all  was  quiet  on  the  mountain,  the  enemy  commenced  a 
rapid  fii*e  from  guns  put  in  position  during  the  night,  and  concentrated  it 
on  our  guns  on  the  point  of  the  mountain.  Yesterda.v  we  had  it  all  our 
own  way;  to-day  they  are  repaying  us,  and  the  cannonade  is  '"fast  and 
furious."  Last  night  there  was  fighting  on  our  left,  but  so  tlifi'erent  are 
the  reports  received  that  1  cannot  get  at  the  truth. 

24th.     There  has  been  but  little  fighting  during  the  day. 

25th.  The  everlasting  "pop,"  "pop"  on  the  skirmish  line  is  all  that 
breaks  the  stillness  of  the  morning.  I  went  early  to  the  left  of  my  line, 
but  could  not  ride  in  the  rear  of  Hoskin's  Battery  on  account  of  the  trees 
and  limbs  felled  by  the  shells.  From  the  top  of  the  mountain  the  vast  pan- 
orama is  ever  changing.  There  are  now  large  trains  to  the  left  of  Lost 
Mountain  and  at  Big  Shanty,  and  the  wagons  are  moving  to  and  fro  ev- 


206  Two  Wars. 

vvy  where.  Eueampraents  of  hospitals,  quartermasters,  comuiissaries,  cav- 
ahy,  and  infantry  whiten  the  plain  here  and  there  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
reach.  Look  at  our  side  of  the  long  line  of  battle!  It  is  narrow,  poor,  and 
<iuiet,  save  at  the  front  where  the  men  are,  and  contrasts,  with  here  and 
there  some  spots  of  canvas  amidst  the  f^reen  foliage,  strangely  wiili  that  of 
the  enemy. 

The  usual  extension  is  gfjing  on.  Ti'oops  of  the  enemy  are  moving  to 
the  left,  our  left,  to  outllank  us.  and  we  lengthen  outcorrespondingly:  and 
now  the  blue  smoke  of  the  musket  discloses  the  line  by  day  trending  away, 
far  away  south  toward  the  Chattahoochee,  and  by  night  it  is  marked,  at 
times,  by  the  red  glow  of  the  artillerj'^  amidst  the  sparklike  flashes  of  small 
arms  that  look  in  the  distance  like  innumerable  tiretlies. 

At  10  A.M.  I  opened  fire  on  the  enemy  from  the  guns  on  Kennesaw.  The 
enemy  replied  furiously,  and  for  an  hour  the  firing  was  incessant.  I  re- 
ceived an  order  to  hold  Ector"s  Brigade  in  reserve.  In  the  afternoon  there 
M'as  considerable  tiring,  and  all  the  chests  of  one  of  my  caissons  were  blown 
up  by  shell  from  the  enemy,  and  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell  in  one  of  the 
chests  a  gunner  was  killed.  They  have  now  about  forty  guns  in  front  of 
me,  and  when  they  concentrate  their  Are  on  the  mountain  at  an 3' one  point 
it  is  pretty  severe,  but,  owing  to  our  great  height,  nearly  harmless.  Thou- 
sands of  their  Parrott  shells  pass  high  over  the  mountain,  and,  exploding 
at  a  great  elevation,  the  after  part  of  the  shell  is  arrested  in  its  ttight  and, 
falling  perpendicularly,  comes  down  into  camp,  and  they  have  injured  our 
tents.  Last  night  I  heard  a  peculiar  "thud  "  on  my  tent  and  a  rattle  of 
tin  pans  bj*  the  side  of  my  cot,  and  this  morning  my  negro  boy  cook  put 
his  head  into  my  tent  with  the  pans  in  his  hands  and  said:  "See here,  mas- 
ter Sam,  them  'fernal  Yanks  done  shot  my  pans  last  night.  What  am  T  go- 
ing to  do  'bout  it'.'"  A  i-itle  ball,  coming  over  the  mountain,  had  fallen 
from  a  great  height  and  perforated  the  pans  and  penetrated  deep  into  the 
earth. 

2f5th.  This  is  Sunday,  and  all  is  comparatively  (piiet  on  tiie  lines  up  to 
this  4  V.M..  except  one  artillery  duel,  but  now  cannon  are  lieard  on  our  ex- 
treme left. 

27th.  This  morning  there  appeared  great  activity  among  the  Federal 
staff  otlicers  and  generals  all  along  my  fi'ont  and  up  and  down  the  lines. 
The  better  to  observe  what  it  portended  I  anil  my  stalf  seated  ourselves 
on  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  sheltered  by  a  large  rock  that  rested  between 
our  guns  and  those  of  the  enemy,  while  my  infantry  line  was  farther  in 
front,  but  low  down  the  mountain  sides. 

Artillery-firing  was  common  at  all  times  on  the  line,  but  now  it  swelled 
in  volume  and  extended  down  to  the  extremt^  left,  and  then  from  fifty  guns 
burst  out  simultaneously  in  my  front,  while  battery  after  battery,  follow- 
ing on  the  right,  disclosed  a  general  attack  on  our  entire  line.  Presently, 
and  as  if  b\'  magic,  there  sprang  from  the  earth  a  host  of  men.  and  in  one 
long,  waving  line  of  blue  the  infantry  advanced  and  the  battle  of  Kenne- 
saw Mountain  began. 

I  could  see  no  infantry  of  the  enemy  on  my  immediate  front,  owing  to 
the  woods  at  the  Ijase  of  the  mountain,  and  tiierefore  directed  the  guns 


■J.  -. 

>  z 

ce  _ 

>  S 


208  Two  Wahs. 

from  their  elevated  position  to  entilade  tlie  blue  line  advancinjj,  on  Walk- 
er's front,  in  full  view.  In  a  short  time  this  flank  tire  down  their  line 
drove  them  back,  and  Walker  was  relieved  from  the  attack. 

We  sat  there  perhaps  an  hour  enjoyinj;  a  bii-d's-eye  view  of  one  of  the 
most  mairnilicciit  si^jhts  ever  allotted  toman,  to  look  down  upon  a  hundred 
and  tifty  thousand  men  arrayed  in  the  strife  of  battle  below.  'Twere  worth 
ten  years  of  peaceful  life,  one  glance  at  their  array  1 

Better  an  hour  on  this  mountain  top 

Than  an  age  on  a  peaceful  plain. 

As  the  infant  ryclost'd  in.  thebjucsmokeof  the  musket  marked  out  the  line 
of  battle,  while  over  it  rose  in  cumulilike  clouds  the  white  smoke  of  the  artil- 
lery. So  many  were  the  guns  concentrated  to  si  lence  those  three  guns  of  ours 
on  the  mountain  brow  behind  us.  and  so  incessant  was  the  roar  of  cannon  and 
explosicjn  of  shells  passing  over  our  heads  or  crashing  on  the  rocks  arounil 
us.  that  naught  else  could  be  heard:  and  so.  with  a  roar  as  constant  as  Ni- 
agara and  as  sharp  as  the  crash  of  thunder  with  lightning  yet  in  the  eye, 
we  satin  silence  watching  the  changing  scenes  of  this  great  panorama. 

Through  the  rifts  of  smoke,  or  as  it  was  wafted  aside  by  the  wind,  we 
could  see  the  assault  made  on  Cheatham.  There  the  struggle  was  hard, 
and  there  it  lasted  longest.  From  the  fact  that  I  had  seen  no  infantry  in 
my  front,  and  heard  no  musketry  near,  I  thought  I  was  exempted  from 
the  general  infantry  attack.  I  was  therefore  surprised  and  awakened  from 
my  dream  when  a  courier  came  to  me,  about  9  o'clock,  and  said  that  (ien. 
Cockrell  wanted  assistance,  that  his  line  had  been  attacked  in  force.  Gen. 
Ector  was  at  once  directed  to  send  two  regiments  to  report  to  him.  Soon 
after  a  second  courier  came  and  reported  an  assault  made  on  the  left  of 
my  line.  1  went  immediately  with  the  remainder  of  Ector's  Bi-igade  to 
Cockrell's  assistance,  but  on  reacliing  him  I  found  the  Federal  assault  had 
been  repulsed.  The  assaulting  column  had  struck  Cockrell's  works  near 
the  center,  recoiled  under  the  fire,  swung  around  into  a  steep  valley  where, 
expo.sed  to  the  lire  of  the  Missourians  in  the  front  and  right  and  of  Sears's 
Mississippians  on  their  left,  it  .seemed  to  melt  away,  or  sink  to  the  earth,  to 
rise  no  more. 

The  as.sault  on  my  line  repulsed,  1  returneil  to  the  mountain  top.  'J'hc 
intensity  of  the  fire  had  slackened,  and  no  movement  of  troops  was  visi- 
ble, and,  although  the  din  of  arms  yet  resounded  far  and  near,  the  battle 
was  virtually  ended. 

From  prisoners,  and  from  papers  and  diaries  found  in  their  pos.sessioii. 
1  learned  that  my  line,  from  its  position,  had  l)een  selected  for  assault  by 
Gen.  McPherson.  as  thatof  ( 'heatham's  and  ( 'lel)urn's  had  by  Gen.  'J'homas. 

Gen.  McPliorsoii  wus  a  (listiiiirnished  otticer,  und  it  would  be 
a  refiection  on  his  jiido^nient  and  skill  as  a  jreneral  to  infer  that 
he  did  not,  midcr  the  eye  of  his  coiuiiiander,  with  ample  men 
and  means,  make  what  he  deemed  adeiiiiale  ])re])arations  for  its 
aecomi)lishmejit;  hut  owinjr  to  the  <rroimd  and  the  determined 
resistanee  encountered,  his  men  by  intuitive  perception,  awak- 


Gen.  Sherman's  Orders.  209 

ciH'd  by  jiction,  realized  that  the  contest  was  hopeless,  and,  where 
[KTsistence  was  only  death,  very  pr<)i)erly  abandoned  the  held. 

Gen.  Cheatham's  loss  was  1I>5;  mine  (Frencirs),  1S();  all  oth- 
er Confederate  losses,  141.  Bein^  a  total  of  .5.52.  What  the 
Federal  loss  was  I  do  not  know,  tnit  it  was  estimated  at  from 
^five  to  c.uiJit  tltoimind. 

The  following  orders  of  Gen.  Sherman  will  explain  the  attack 
clearly;  and  the  telegrams  the  result  of  the  l)attle. 

Headquarters  Military  Division  ok  the  Mississippi,    | 
In  the  Field  near  Kennesaw  Mountain,  June  34,  1864.  ' 
The  army  coiiimanders  will  make  full  reconnoissauees  and  preparations 
to  attack  the  enemy  in  force  on  the  27th  inst.,  at  8  a.m.  preci.sely. 

The  commanding  general  will  be  on  Signal  Hill,  and  will  have  telegraph- 
ic communication  with  all  the  army  commanders. 

1.  Maj.  Gen.  Thomas  will  assault  the  enemy  at  any  front  near  his  cen- 
ter, to  be  selected  by  himself,  and  will  make  any  changes  in  his  troops  nec- 
essary, by  night,  so  as  not  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy. 

2.  Maj.  Gen.  McPherson  will  feign,  by  a  movement  of  his  cavaliy  and 
one  division  of  his  infantry,  on  his  extreme  left,  approaching  Marietta 
from  the  nortli,  and  using  artillei-y  freely,  l)ut  will  make  his  n;«/  attack  at 
a  point  south  and  west  of  Kennesaw. 

3.  Maj.  (ien.  Schotield  will  feel  to  his  extreme  right  and  threaten  that 
flank  of  the  enemy,  etc. 

4.  Each  attacking  column  will  endeavor  to  break  a  single  point  of  the 
enemy's  line  and  make  a  secure  lodgment  beyontl,  and  be  prepared  for  fol- 
lowing it  up  toward  Marietta  and  the  I'ailroad  in  case  of  success. 

By  order  of  Maj.  (xcn.  W.  T.  Sherman.  L.  M.  Dayton, 

Aid  dc  Cam  J). 

Headquarters  MiLrrARY  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  | 
In  the  Field,  June  27,  1864,  11:45  a.m.  i 

Gen.  Schnjield:  Neither  McPherson  nor  Thomas  has  succeeded  in  break- 
ing through,  but  eac^h  has  made  substantial  progress  at  some  cost.  Push 
your  operations  on  the  flank  and  keep  me  advised.     W.  T.  Sherman, 

Major  General  ('ommandincj. 

Headquarters  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,    \_ 
In  the  Field  near  Kennesaw.  June  27,  1864,  11:45  a.m.  ^ 
Gc7i.  Tliornas:  McPher.son's  column  marched  near  the  top  of  the  hill, 
through  very  tangled  brush,  but  was  rci^nlsed.     It  is  found  impossible  to 
deploy,  but  they  hold  their  ground.     1  wish  you  to  study  well  the  posi- 
tions, and  if  possible  to  break  through  the  lines  to  do  it.     It  is  easier  now 
than  it  will  be  hereafter.     I  hear  l^eggitt's  guns  well  behind  the  mountain. 
W.  T.  SiiER.MAN,  Major  General  Commanding. 

As  nothing  decisive  was  obtained  by  Sherman's  attack,  the 
fire  slackened,  except  on  the  skirmish  line.     After  dark  the  ene- 
14 


^10  Tiro  Waes. 

my  withdrew  to  their  main  trenches,  the  roar  of  (juiis  died  grad- 
ually away,  and  tlie  morning  of  the  2Sth  dawned  on  ])oth  armies 
in  their  former  positions.  The  battle  of  Ivennesaw,  then,  was  a 
display  of  force  and  an  attack  on  the  entire  lengtli  of  our  line 
by  artillery  an<l  infantry,  under  cover  of  which  two  grand  at- 
tacks were  made  by  assaulting  columns,  the  one  on  my  line  and 
the  other  on  Cheatham's. 

28th.  After  the  battle  of  yesterday  there  is  less  activity  in  front,  and 
the  enemy  move  about  in  a  subdued  manner  and  less  lordly  style,  and  yet 
they  resent  defeat  bj^  a  cannonade  this  afternoon. 

2\H\\.  Everything  is  quiet  this  morning,  and  so  continued  till  5:  30  p.m., 
wiii-n  they  opened  on  our  guns  on  Kennesaw  Avith  a  new  battery  to  aid  the 
previous  ones.  Perhaps  they  design  attacking  my  line  again.  A  great 
number  of  shells  fell  in  camp,  or  rather  they  were  fragments  of  shells 
bursting  high  over  the  mountain.     At  dusk  cannonading  l^urst  out  again. 

80rh.  Rather  quiet  this  morning.  At  2:30  a..m.  last  night  we  were  all 
aroused  l)y  a  severe  rattle  of  musketry  on  the  left.  We  got  up  and  sad- 
dled our  horses,  but  after  about  twenty  minutes  the  firing  ceased  and  all 
Avas  quiet  till  morning.  It  appears  that  this  night  attack  was  caused  by 
a  false  alarm.  This  morning  I  rode  to  Marietta,  it  being  the  first  time  I 
have  left  my  line.  This  afternoon  I  went  to  the  batteries  on  the  mountain 
Avith  Gen.  Mackell,  and  then  again  with  (ien.  Stevens.  There  has  been 
but  little  firing  to-day. 

July  1.  After  lying  down  last  night  I  was  aroused  by  some  shells  pass- 
ing overhead,  and  then  again  by  some  shar})  musketry  on  my  left.  The 
awful  lies  found  in  the  newspapers,  manufactured  l)y  correspondents, 
lauding  certain  generals  and  magnifying  their  victories,  should  ruin  them. 

This  afternoon  the  enemy  turned  tifty-two  i)ieces  of  artillery  on  the 
three  guns  I  have  on  the  west  brow  of  Jjittle Kennesaw,  and  continued  the 
tire  until  long  after  dark.  Seldom  in  war  have  there  been  instances  where 
so  manj'  guns  have  been  trained  on  a  single  spot.  But  it  was  only  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night  that  the  magnilicence  of  the  scene  was  displa,yed^ 
grand  beyond  imagination,  beautiful  beyond  description.  Kennesaw,  us- 
ually invisibJe  from  a  distance  at  niglit.  now  res(!rables  Vesuvius  in  the  be- 
ginning of  an  eruption.  The  innumerable  curling  rings  of  smoke  from  the 
incessant  bursting  of  shells  over  the  mountain  top,  ailded  to  the  volumes 
l^elching  foi'th  from  our  guns,  wreathed  KtMuiesaw  in  a  golden  thunder- 
cloud in  the  still  sky.  from  which  came  incessant  flashes  of  iridescent 
light  from  shells,  like  bursting  stars.  The  canopy  of  clouds  rolling  around 
the  peak  looked  .softer  than  the  downj'  cotton,  but  ever  changing  in  color. 
One  moment  th<'y  were  as  crimson  as  the  evening  clouds  painted  by  the 
rays  of  the  summer  .setting  sun.  and  tin-  next,  l)righter  than  if  lit  l)y  the 
lightning's  Hash,  or  bursting  meteors.  However  l)rilliant  and  varied  and 
beautiful  to  the  sight,  it  was  not  one  of  pure  delight,  because  it  was  not  a 
grand  display  in  the  clouds  for  amusement,  and  when  it  died  away,  when 
silence  came,  and  night  threw  her  dark  mantle  oxci-  the  scene,  tliei-e  was 


Heroism  or  Col.  Martix.  211 

uo  feeling  of  joy.  only  one  of  roliof  from  the  cxcitemont  of  hope  and  fear 
ever  infitlenl  to  the  wager  of  battle. 

The  irood  |)cople  of  Marietta,  who  often  watched  from  house 
toi)s  these  seenes  of  excitement,  will  never  forget  them. 

It  was  during  this  battle  that  one  of  the  noblest  deeds  of  hu- 
manity was  performed  the  world  has  ever  witnessed.  We  have 
the  Bible  account  of  the  man  who,  "going  from  Jerusalem  to 
Jericho,  fell  among  thieves,"  and  the  good  Samaritan  who  "had 
compassion  on  him  and  bound  up  his  wounds:"'  we  have  Sir  Phil- 
i})  Sidney,  and  the  generous  conduct  of  a  French  cuirassier  at 
A\'aterloo  who,  seeing  Maj.  Poten,  of  the  King's  German  Legion, 
had  lost  his  right  arm,  when  al^outto  cut  him  down,  dropped  the 
point  of  his  sword  to  the  salute  and  rode  away.  The  French 
soldier  was  happily  discovered,  and  received  the  cross  of  the  Le- 
gion of  Honor.  But  here  /n/  have  "Col.  W.  H.  Martin,  of  the 
First  Arkansas  Regiment,  of  Clel)urne\s  Division,  who,  seeing 
the  woods  in  front  of  him  on  tire  burning  the  wounded  Feder- 
als, tied  a  handkerchief  to  a  ramrod  and  amidst  the  danger  of 
battle  mounted  the  parapet  and  shouted  to  the  enemy:  'Come 
and  remove  your  wounded;  they  are  burning  to  death:  we  won't 
tire  a  gun  till  you  get  them  away.  Be  quick!"  And  with  his 
own  men  he  leaped  over  our  works  and  helped  to  remove  them. 
When  this  Avork  of  humanity  Avas  ended  a  noble  Federal  major 
was  so  impressed  I)y  such  magnanimity  that  he  pulled  from  his 
belt  a  brace  of  hne  pistols  and  presented  them  to  Col.  jNIartin 
with  the  remark:  'Accept  them  with  my  appreciation  of  the  no- 
bility of  this  deed.  It  deserves  to  l)e  perpetuated  to  the  death- 
less honor  of  every  one  of  you  concerned  in  it:  and  should  you 
fight  a  thousand  other  battles,  and  win  a  thousand  other  victo- 
ries, you  will  never  win  another  so  noble  as  this."  Alas!  alas! 
The  noble  Col.  ^Martin  lived  to  return  to  his  home.  His  lovely 
wife  died,  leaving  an  only  child.  Broken-hearted,  he  sailed  to 
Honduras,  as  he  said,  to  make  a  fortune  for  his  little  girl,  and 

there,  one  day  when  sailing  in  a  small  boat  on  the river. 

with  only  a  boy  to  help  him.  the  boom  struck  him  on  the  head, 
knocking  him  overboard,  where  he  was  drowned.  Such  is  the 
irony  of  fate.""  ■■ 

*Mr.  Joseph  M.  Brown,  of  Marietta,  Ga.,  has  a  letter  from  Col.  Martin's 
brother,  who  was  aware  of  his  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Kennesaw.  and  re- 
lates the  cii-cumstancesof  his  death  as  above  written  by  Mr.  Brown. 


CHAPTER  XY. 

Oiu'  Army  Falls  Back  from  Kennesaw — ("ont'ederate  "Rebel  Yell" — Occu- 
py Works  on  the  Chattahoochee  River — A.  P.  Stewart  Aj^pointed  Lieu- 
tenant General — Assumes  Command  of  the  Ai'my  of  Mississippi — Texas 
Brigade  Fight  to  Obtain  Tools — We  Cross  the  Chattahoochee — Arrival 
of  Gen.  B.  Bragg — Gen.  Johnston  Relieved — President  Davis's  Remark 
about  Relieving  Johnston  from  Command — Johnston's  Policy  versus 
Hood's — Battle  of  Peachtree  Creek — We  Occupy  Atlanta — Battle  of  At- 
lanta— S.  D.  Lee  Assigned  to  Command  of  Hood's  Corps — Gen.  Ector 
Wounded—Capt.  Ward  Killed— Battle  of  July  2H.  1804—1  Apply  to  Be 
Relieved  from  Serving  with  Hood — Gen.  M.  JetT  Thompson — Condition 
of  the  Camps  of  United  States  Troops — J^vidence  of  the  Terrible  Fire  of 
Small  Arms — Evacuation  of  Atlanta — Jonesl)oro  and  I^ovejoj'^'s  Station. 

I  LEFT  Kennesaw  with  reofret.  From  its  slopes  we  repelled  the 
assaults  of  the  enemy,  and  from  its  top,  where  I  loved  to  sit  and 
witness  the  ahnost  daily  conflicts,  and  hear  the  "Rebel  yell" 
from  away  down  the  throat,  and  the  Federal  cheer  from  the  lips. 
The  "Rebel  yell''  was  born  amidst  the  roar  of  cannon,  the  flash 
of  the  musket,  the  deadly  conflict,  comrades  fallincr,  and  death 
in  front — then,  when  rushing  forward,  that  unearthly  yell  rose 
from  a  thousand  Confederate  throats,  loud,  a})ove  "  the  thunder 
of  the  captains  and  the  shoutings,"'  and  with  the  force  of  a  tor- 
nado they  swept  on  over  the  fleld  to  death  or  victory.  O  how 
the  heart  throbs  and  the  eye  glares!  As  that  yell  is  the  oftspring 
of  the  tempest  of  the  battle  and  death,  it  cannot  be  heard  in 
peace,  no,  never,  never  I  The  Federal  cheer  lives  on,  and  is 
heard  daily  in  the  land.  That  ( 'onfederate  yell  Avas  never,  as  far 
as  I  know,  made  when  standing  still.  It  was  really  an  inspira- 
tion arising  from  facing  danger  and  death  which,  as  brave  men, 
they  resolved  to  meet.  Ye  children  of  peace  can  never  hear  it; 
wherefore  I  write  of  a  soiuid  that  was  produced  by  environment 
ye  will  never  have.  It  died  with  the  cause  that  produced  it. 
The  yell  produced  awe;  the  cheer  indicated  yV>y. 

July  2.  Not  content  with  the  waste  of  ammunition  last  evening,  the 
enemy  commenced  again  at  4:15  this  morning — the  heathens — and  kept  it 
up  until  0  A.M.  from  every  battery,  and  from  some  guns  until  11  a.m.  I 
went  up  the  mountain  earlj'  in  the  morning.  'J'he  fire  was  not  confined  to 
my  guns  on  the  mountain,  but  extended  s<jme  distance  down  the  line.  All 
this  was  intende<l.  no  doubt,  to  hold  Johnston's  main  force  on  his  own 


A.    I'.    SIKW  Alii'. 


Gen.  Stewart  Assumes  Command.  215 

ri^ht  whilo  they  moved  to  our  left.  Hanking  as  usual.  At  1  r.M.  I  received 
orders  to  withdraw  my  division  to-night,  and  did  so  at  10  r.  m. 

3d.  The  regiments  left  in  the  trenches  and  the  skirmishers  did  not  leave 
until  3  A.M.  Owing  to  detention  of  the  trains,  etc.,  we  <lid  not  reaeh  our 
new  position  until  after  daylight.  I  went  Xa  work  intrenching  our  line — 
and  it  is  a  Inid  one.  Soon  in  the  morning  the  enemy  drove  in  our  cavalry, 
and  l)y  noon  had  out  his  skirmishers  and  artillery  to  tlie  front.  It  is  won- 
derful how  well  our  soldiers  understand  this  falling  back.  Never  before 
did  an  army  constantly  fight  and  fall  back  for  seven  weeks  without  de- 
moralization, and  it  plainly  establishes  the  intelligence  and  individuality 
of  the  men. 

4th.  The  shelling  this  morning  was  very  severe.  This  caused  the  Mis- 
sissippi Brigade  to  seek  ])rotection  in  this  way:  They  used  the  shingles 
from  a  house  for  sjjades.  and  bayonets  for  picks,  and  thus  in  a  few  min- 
utes the  men  were  in  a  shallow  ditch.  My  men  in  rifle  pits  were  shelled 
out  and  driven  in.  We  were  ordered  to  fall  back  to-night,  which  was  done 
with  much  ditliculty. 

5th.  At  3  A.M.  we  were  on  the  retreat,  and  it  was  well  executed  by  the 
troops,  and  we  came  into  Vining  Station  ahead  of  the  other  divisions. 
Some  sharpshooters  with  Whitworth  rifles  and  a  lieutenant  of  Hoslin's 
Battery  were  left  in  camp  asleep,  and  they  barely  escaped  capture.  We 
were  now  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Chattahoochee  river.  The  right  of  my 
line  was  a  small  redoubt  east  of  the  railroad  (Western  and  Atlantic),  thence 
it  crossed  it,  thence  across  the  Marietta  dirt  road,  etc.  At  10  a.ji.  the  en- 
emy swept  the  whole  plain  with  shells  down  to  the  river.  I  established 
headquarters  with  Gen.  Walthall  in  an  old  log  house  by  the  roadside. 

6th.  The  enemy  is  quiet  this  morning.  Yesterday  the  impolite  followers 
of  Sherman  came  near  spoiling  our  dinner  as  we  sat  on  the  ground  eating, 
by  sending  a  twenty-i)ound  Parrott  .shell  near  enough  to  throw  the  .sand 
about  and  over  it. 

7th.  This  morning  I  rode  along  the  lines  with  Gens.  Loring  and  Shoup. 
Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart,  having  been  promoted  to  a  lieutenant  general,  as- 
sumed command  of  the  Army  of  Mississippi.  After  the  death  of  Gen.  Polk 
I  unhesitatingly  said  that  Gen.  Stewart  would  be  promoted.  I  rode  along 
the  whole  of  his  command  with  him. 

8th.  The  enemy  keep  up  a  sharp  tire  on  our  skirmish  line  at  night. 
They  evidently  are  apprehensive  that  we  will  cross  the  river  at  night,  for 
during  the  day  they  are  (juiet. 

As  we  have  no  tools  for  throwing  up  breastworks,  (ien.  Ector  came  to 
me  for  ])ermission  to  move  a  regiment  to  his  front  in  the  woods,  from 
where  he  had  swung  l)ack.  so  as  to  attack  the  enemy  when  they  came  out 
to  establish  a  picket  line.  This  he  did  successfully,  and  returned  with 
good  picks,  spades,  and  steel  axes  (ours  were  cast  iron)  that  will  cut  wood. 
Shingleur,  Kol)inson,  and  Yerger,  aids,  are  all  sick. 

9th.  About  y  A.M.  the  enemy  attacked  the  line  of  skirmisiiers  in  front 
of  Sears's  Brigade  with  force  and  drove  them  from  their  pits.  Gol.  Barry 
advanced  the  Thirty-Sixth  Mi.ssis.si])i)i  Regiment,  under  command  of  Maj. 
Parton.  and  forced  them  back,  captured  their  line,  and  drove  them  nearlj'^ 


216  Two  Wars. 

to  their  main  works,  ami  reestablished  ours.  Prisoners  were  captured 
from  five  different  resriments.  Our  loss  was  tifty-two  men  in  all.  After 
this  they  shelled  my  line  for  hours.  About  2  p.m.  the  enemy  commenced 
a  slow  cannonade  on  my  front,  and  continued  it  till  dark.  The  twenty- 
pound  Parrotts  passed  over  our  quarters  constantly  and  ex))loded  in  the 
road. 

This  1-.  M.  I  was  .scut  for  by  (icn.  Stewart,  and  received  ordei-s  to  with- 
draw my  command  across  the  river  by  the  railroad  bridge.  After  all  were 
crossed  both  the  railroad  and  dirt  road  bridges  were  burned.  We  moved 
on  toward  Paces'  Ferry,  and  bivouacked  by  the  wayside. 

10th.  The  morning  has  been  quiet,  and  the  wearied  troops  have  rested. 
This  retrograde  movement  was  caused  l)y  the  enemy  crossing  the  river 
above,  near  Roswell.  The  works  of  Gen.  Shoup,  with  its  stockades,  did 
not  give  Johnston  spare  troops  enough  to  prevent  this  movement  of  the 
enemy.  Thus  we  are  constantly  outflanked  by  a  superior  force  not  dis- 
posed to  attack  us  behind  any  kiml  of  works.  At  4  p.m.  it  commenced 
raining,  and  then  artillery  tiring  l)egan  at  the  railroad  crossing  and  far- 
ther down  the  river.  Now  for  nearly  two  months  we  have  had  daily  fir- 
ing, save  only  one  day  when  on  Lost  Mountain.  Gen.  Ector  was  left  to 
guard  the  railroad  crossing  and  the  river,  above  and  below.  This  was  on 
the  11th. 

12th  and  13th.  The  camp  is  tilled  with  rumors.  The  enemy  isrejjorted 
to  have  crossed  the  river  and  then  gone  back.  I  rode  to  Stewart's  head- 
quarters, and  thence  to  Atlanta.  1  saw  Capt.  Maupin  in  the  hospital. 
Poor  fellow,  he  was  shot,  at  the  Latimar  House,  through  the  breast.  I 
went  to  see  Gen.  Johnston,  and  found  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg  there.  He  comes 
from  Richmond.  What  is  his  mission?  Who  knows?  Is  Sherman  on  this 
side  of  the  river?  Has  Grant's  failures  in  Virginia,  and  Early's  invasion 
of  Pennsylvania,  affected  movements  doAvn  here?  A  few  days  will  deter- 
mine. O  for  brighter  days  for  the  Confederacy!  I  have  lieen  obliged  to 
order  the  guards  to  fire  on  the  cavalry  when  they  go  in  the  river  to  bathe 
with  the  Federal  cavalry.  Federals  never  ventui-e  in  unless  our  men  are 
bathing.  Our  men  are  not  seeking  fords:  they  are.  This  is  what  they  are 
looking  for. 

14th,  15th,  IGth.  We  remained  in  Invouac,  and  nothing  unusual  oc- 
curred. W^e  ai-e  still  anxious  to  learn  more  about  Early  in  Maryland. 
There  is  the  usual  amount  of  firing  ou  our  front. 

Sunday,  17th.  The  enemy  commenced  a  more  rapid  and  continued  tire 
from  their  batteries  near  the  railroad  liri<lge.  where  I  have  })ickets.  This, 
as  usual,  presages  some  movement.  And  here  it  is:  "Hold  your  command 
ready  for  a  movement."'  It  does  seem  strange  that  we  cannot  have  one 
quiet  Sal)bath.  Sherman  has  no  regard  for  the  Fourth  Commandment.  I 
wish  a  Bible  .society  would  send  him  a  prayer  l)ook,  instead  of  shii)i)iiig 
them  all  to  the  more  remote  heathen:  l)ut  it  would  be  the  same  in  either 
case.  The  one  is  wicked  by  nature;  the  other,  I  fear,  is  becoming  so  from 
habit.  Perliaps  "Tecumseh  "  has  something  to  do  with  it.  There  is  much 
in  a  name. 

18th.     I  moved  into  a  position  where  my  left  rested  on  the  Marietta 


Gen.  (mRant  Reflses  Exchangk.  217 

ro:i(i.  uiid  commenced  intrenching  at  night,  (ieii.  Johnston  \v;is  ivlieved 
on  yesterday  from  tlie  coinmand  of  this  army,  and  Gen.  J.  B.  Hood  as- 
sumed command  by  onh'rs  from  Kichnmnd.  Earl}'  this  morning  I  rode 
down  to  army  hcaihiiiarters  and  l)ade  Joliiiston  trood-bJ^ 

And  liere  1  will  state  the  e-onvcrsution  that  occurred  between 
Hood  and  me.  I  told  him  that  I  was  sorry  Johnston  had  been  re- 
lieved; that  I  had  often,  when  in  Mississippi,  talked  ^^■ith  him 
concerninii"  tlie  manner  of  condiu-tinir  the  war:  hut  "  now  that  you 
are  in  connnand,  I  assure  you  I  will  ser\t'  under  you  as  faithful- 
ly and  cheerfully  as  with  him."  Althouirh  he  took  my  hand  and 
thanked  me,  I  was  ever  afterwards  impressed  with  the  belief  that 
he  never  forofave  me  for  ^vhat  I  .said. 

Now,  since  I  have  alluded  to  it,  I  will  state  that  in  our  con- 
versation I  atrreed  with  John.ston  that  oiu"  success  mainly  de- 
pended on  breakin<r  the  enemy  down  financially,  by  procrasti- 
natinof  the  war;  that  to  do  this  the  strength  of  the  army  in  the 
East  and  in  the  West  should  be  maintained;  that  the  armies  up- 
held the  government,  and  a  great  defeat  would  be  disastrous. 

It  was  because  we  ccmld  obtain  no  more  recruits  that  Grant 
refused  to  exchange  prisoners  and  receive  the  Andersonville 
prisoners  and  return  a  like  number  to  increase  the  ranks  of  Lee's 
army.     Here  is  Grant's  letter  on  exchange  of  prisoners: 

City  Point.  August  is,  18(54. 
To  Gen.  Butler. 

On  the  suljjcc-t  of  exchange,  however,  I  differ  from  Gen.  Hitchcock.  It 
is  hard  on  our  men  lield  in  Southern  ])risons  not  to  exchange  them,  hut  it 
is  humanity  to  those  left  in  the  ranks  to  fight  our  battles.  Every  man  re. 
leased,  on  parole  on  otherwise,  becomes  an  active  soldier  against  us  at 
once,  either  directly  or  indirectly. 

If  we  commence  a  system  of  exchange,  which  liberates  all  prisoners 
taken,  we  will  have  to  fight  on  until  the  whole  South  is  exterminated.  If 
we  hold  those  caught,  they  amount  to  no  more  than  dead  men.  At  this 
particular  time  to  release  Rebel  prisoners  North  would  insure  Sherman's 
defeat,  and  would  compromise  our  safety  here. 

As  Gen.  Grant  discusses  the  humanity  of  his  acts.  I  will  com- 
pare it  with  what  other  distinguished  men  have  written  on  the 
subject  of  exchange  of  prisoners. 

Carthage,  dispirited  by  her  losses,  wished  for  peace.  For  this 
purpose  and)assadors  were  dispatched  to  Rome.  Kegulus  (a 
prisoner  in  Carthage)  was  sent  with  the  aml)assadors  to  further 
the  exchange,  bound  by  an  oath  to  return  to  Carthage  in  ease  of 


218  T^ro  Wars. 

-A  failure  to  iimkc  ix'aco  or  exchunire  of  prisoners.  He  dissuaded 
his  countrviiion  from  a<rreein<Jf  to  either  proposition,  and,  hound 
hy  his  oath,  returned  to  Carthage,  where  lie  well  knew  torture 
and  death  awaited  him. 

Cicero  applauds  Heirulus  in  hoth  ))artieulars  in  returninof  to 
Carthage.  Sir  Walter  Kaleigh  conunends  Kegulus  in  maintain- 
ing the  obligation  of  his  oath.  l>ut  in  dissuading  the  Senate  not 
to  agree  to  exchange  of  prisoners  he  eondenms  his  iniiumanity, 
which  no  good  reasons  of  state  could  justify. 

How^ever,  be  this  as  it  may,  one  thing  is  certain,  and  that  is 
that  the  inhumanity,  if  there  were  any,  was  assumed  l)y  the  act 
of  the  I'nited  States  (the  North)  in  refusing  to  mitigate  their 
sufferings  on  both  sides  by  not  exchanging  prisoners,  and  it  re- 
leases the  South  from  the  charge  of  all  suffering  incident,  al 
ways,  to  prison  life.* 

()I  had  the  gifted  Senator  from  (leorgia,  Benjamin  H.  Hill, 
known  of  the  existence  of  this  letter  defining  the  policy  of  the 
North  in  the  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war,  he  would  have  van- 
(juished  his  antagonist,  Hon.  J.  G.  Blaine,  and  silenced  the  jin- 
goes and  stopped  the  waving  of  the  bloody  shirt  to  tire  the 
Northern  heart  against  the  South. 

In  a  private  conversation  with  President  Davis  he  told  me  that 
so  great  was  the  pressure  made  on  him  by  deputations,  commit- 
tees, individuals,  officials,  and  the  press  demanding  to  know  if 
Atlanta  and  the  State  of  Georgia  were  to  ])e  given  up  without  a 
battle  for  its  preservation,  that  he  was  reluctantly  obliged  to  re- 
lieve (ien.  Johnston  to  satisfy  the  clamorous  demands  made  for 
a  halt  and  a  l)attle  in  defense  of  the  State  while  thearmy  w^as  in 
the  mctuutainous  region,  and  so  he  yieldecl  to  the  cry  of  the  ])eople. 

■20lh.  This  morning  it  \v;is  resolved  to  attack  the  three  corps  of  the  en- 
emy that  were  on  the  Peaelitree  creek  and  sejjarated  from  the  corps  that 
were  near  Decatur.  Sears's  Brigade  l)eing  on  duty  im  ilic  river  and  creek, 
I  moved  with  the  brigades  of  CockrcU  and  Ector  to  ilic  riglit  and  forme<l 
line  of  battle  in  front  of  the  Ragilalc  House.  Tliis  position  was  the  ex- 
treme left  of  the  ai-my. 

The  plan  of  battle  was  a  good  one.  Hardee  was  to  gain  the  enemy's 
rear,  swing  to  the  left,  taking  their  line  in  Jlank,  while  we  attacked  the 
line  in  front  in  echelon  of  brigades  as  the  battle  swept  down  the  creek. 
Walthall  was  cni  my  right,  and  I  was  to  keep  within  about  three  hundred 
y:ir<ls  of  him.     In  advancing  1  came  to  an  open  field  in  front  of  the  ene- 

'■'See  TytlT's  "  History,"  and  War  Office  Records. 


A  Quiet  Sunday.  21& 

my.  Their  line  was  foiiil'uMl.  wltli  Iwo  licld  hattci'ics  in  jxisitioii  lliat  kept 
Uj)  a  rontiiiuous  lire  on  my  line.  (u'li.  Loriiiff's  troops  broke  throufjli  the 
enemy's  line  of  works.  Reynolds  and  Featherston  had  to  al)andon  the 
<'a))tured  line  t»y  reason  of  the  Hank  lire  on  them.  The  failure  of  Hardee 
deranjred  the  plan  of  battle.     After  dark  we  withdrew. 

22d.  I  had  a  slight  skirmish  with  the  enemy  yesterday.  We  got  twen- 
ty-four of  them.  lyast  night  the  army  occupied  Atlanta.  M\'  division 
formed  the  extreme  left  of  the  army.  My  headquarters  are  at  Mr.  Jen- 
nings's house,  and  the  line  crosses  the  road  to  Turner's  Ferry  and  runs  to- 
ward the  Western  and  Atlajitic  railroad.  Preparations  are  being  ma<le 
to  attack  the  enemy's  left  wing  over  toward  Decatur.  Noon  has  passefl, 
and  there  has  been  no  infantry-tiring  yet.  only  the  booming  of  artillery, 
but  about  4  I'.M.  the  volleys  of  musketry  fell  on  the  ear.  died  away.  an<I  then 
burst  out  anew,  and  did  not  cease  until  tlark,  when  they  receded  in  the  dis- 
tance, indicating  the  advance  of  our  troops.  The  fruits  of  the  victory  are 
reported  to  be  twenty-four  pieces  of  artillery  an<l  three  thousand  one.hun- 
dred  prisoners.  With  it  com(^s  sad  regrets  for  the  death  of  Gen.  W.  A.  T. 
Walker  on  our  side,  and  Gen.  McPherson,  United  States  army,  on  their  side. 

37th.  Nothing  has  occurred,  save  the  usual  siege  tiring,  since  the  22d. 
This  morning  when  I  was  at  Ward's  Battery  there  was  some  artillery-tir- 
ing, and  a  shell  exploded  overhead,  striking  Gen.  Ector  above  the  knee, 
re(|uiring  amputation,  and  Capt.  Ward,  moitally  wounding  him,  I  sent 
them  to  m}^  quarters  and  thence  to  oiu"  hospital.  Ward  w^as  an  accom- 
plished gentleman  and  a  brave  soldier.  I  wrote  to  Mrs.  Ward,  trying  to 
console  her  in  her  bereavement.  Gen.  Ector  in  due  time  was  walking  by 
the  aid  of  crutches.  Gen.  8.  D.  Lee  to-day  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  Hood's  Corps. 

28th.  I  rode  to  Gen.  Stewart's  and  heard  that  the  enemy  was  moving 
to  our  left.  I  then  went  to  Hood's.  Knowing  that  four  divisions  had  i)een 
moved  to  my  left.  I  felt  assured  that  a  battle  was  pending.  S.  D.  l^ee  was 
in  command.  About  1  p.m.  it  began,  and  continued  four  hours.  By  re- 
((uest  of  Walthall  I  sent  theiu  Guibor's  guns  and  Ector's  Brigade.  The  at- 
tack Avas  a  failure  because  it  was  fought  by  weak  detailed  attacks  instead 
of  a  consolidated  force.  Gen.  Stewart  was  struck  by  a  partlj'  spent  ball 
in  the  forehead,  and  Loring  was  wounded.  As  soon  as  I  learned  the  posi- 
tion of  the  enemy  I  opened  tire  on  them  from  my  riHed  thirty-two  pound- 
ers and  continued  the  tire  slowly  all  night. 

29th.  All  is  quiet  this  morning.  I  rode  to  corps  headtiuartcrs,  and 
found  that  both  Stewart  and  Loring  had  left,  which  made  me  commander 
of  the  corps.  Ijut  to  my  surprise  I  found  that  Hood  had  ))laced  C'heath;un 
in  command.  I  wrote  to  Hood  in  regard  to  the  matter.  Hood's  act  was 
in  keeping  with  the  intriguing  so  ruinous  to  this  arniy.  and  I  ask<'d  to  be 
relieved  from  serving  in  it  any  longer. 

31st.  Nothing  unusual  happened  yesterday.  To-day  is  Sunday,  and  it 
dawned  as  though  peace  had  sjn-ead  her  white  wings  ov(M-  the  land,  for  not 
a  gun  has  yet  been  heard,  and  so  it  continued  most  <>f  ihe  day.  Divine 
service  w'as  held  in  the  brigades,  and  in  tlic  pond  in  front  of  my  iiuai'ters 
a  baptism  took  place. 


220  Tiro  Wars. 

August  1.  My  command  was  extended  to  cover  Walthall's  original 
front.  I  made  a  call  on  Gens.  (i.  W.  Smith  and  K.  Toombs,  and  wrote  to 
Richmond.  This  r.M.  the  enemy  commenced  artillery  fire  on  the  redoubt 
in  front  of  my  house.  One  shell  killed  a  mule  in  the  yard,  another  broke 
my  wagon  tongue,  while  a  third  knocked  the  pipe  from  Hedrick's  (my  or- 
dei'ly)  mouth,  etc.  My  api)lication  to  be  relieved  from  duty  was  returned 
di-sapproved.  and  I  was  informed  that  I  would  not  be  relieved.  Soon  Au- 
gust 2  I  wrote  to  the  Adjutant  (iencral  to  be  relieved  from  coininand  in 
or  serving  with  this  army. 

2d,  8d.  4th,  5th.  [To  transcribe  my  diary  foi-  these  days  would  only  be 
a  reiteration  of  daily  siege  attacks.  J 

6th.  I  made  a  demonstration  on  the  enemy  this  morning  in  his  works 
in  my  front  to  aid  Lee  on  our  left.  1  moved  my  left  over  a  mile  to  the 
front  and  attacked  the  enemy  on  his  skirmish  line  and  then  their  main 
line,  but  it  was  done  at  the  expense  of  Lieut.  Motherhead  killed.,  Maj.  Red- 
wine  wounded,  and  forty-three  men  killed  and  wounded.  1  was  directed 
to  make  this  demonstration:  ordinarily  they  do  l)Ut  little  good  against  old 
.soldiers,  because  they  know  so  well  that  they  would  not  i)e  attacked  be- 
hind their  works  seriously  unless  by  massed  troops.  Neither  will  they  at- 
tack ours.  In  the  afternoon  they  shelled  my  line  complimentary-to  my  at- 
tack in  the  morning.  How  polite  they  are  in  returning  attentions!  Bad 
news  received  from  Mobile.  It  is  reported  that  the  United  States  tleet  has 
passed  Fort  Morgan  and  is  now  in  the  l)ay. 

Sth,  9th.  I  gave  \ny  lai'ge  map  of  the  Yazoo  Valley  totien.  M.  L.  Smith, 
who  sent  it  to  Macon  to  l)e  c-opied.  one  copy  for  the  commander  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Missi.ssii)pi,  and  the  other  for  the  War  De])artment.  I  rode  along 
the  lines  with  (ien.  Sears,  who  has  returned.  ( 'ockrell  also  got  hiu-k  yester- 
day. While  I  was  at  Col.  Young's  the  enemy  commenced  shelling,  and  it 
has  continued  ever  since,  full  seven  hours.  So  far  it  has  done  Init  little 
damage.  Very  many  shells  have  fallen  close  hy,  and  exploded  over  the 
house,  and  it  has  become  anything  but  a  pleasant  I'esidence,  and  at  night 
disturbs  pleasant  dreams. 

1  sent  a  letter  to  the  President  on  the  matter  of  Gen.  Hood's  conduct  in 
the  assignment  of  Gheatham  to  Stewart's  Corps  during  his  alxsence. 

10th  and  11th.  I  rode  out  to  our  hospital  this  morning,  'i'he  enemy 
.seems  disposed  to  get  possession  of  my  vidette  line,  which  I  have  main- 
tained up  to  this  time.  When  the  siege  began  I  sent  for  my  principal  otii- 
cers  and  told  them  all  that  1  did  not  intend  my  camj)  should  l)e  rendered 
uny)leasant  from  i"ille  balls,  that  the  vidette  line  away  in  trout  must  be 
held:  that  the  picket  line  five  hundred  yards  in  front  should  l)c  strong,  and 
on  it  the  fighting  should  be  to  the  lastextremily.  The  result  of  this  course 
has  been  that  my  men  are  entirely  free  from  annoyance,  except  from  some 
artillery  tire,  and  that  is  foolishly  directed  at  our  redoubts.  I  use  artil- 
lery on  their  infantry  camps  and  lines  so  as  to  destroy  their  rest  both  day 
and  night.  See  the  ditl'erencel  While  we  sleep  in  safety,  in  some  j)ai-ts  of 
the  lines  around  the  city  no  one  can  move  without  drawing  the  tire  of  the 
Yankees  on  themselves,  so  near  are  the  lines  together. 

12th  to  17th.     [The  diary  is  too  full  of  detaiTto  ret-ord  here,  so  I  will 


FiHiNd  Hot  Shot.  221 

miTi'ly  remark  tlial  tlic  cvcrlasliii}'  tire  continues  on  my  picket  line,  and 
their  jjuns  shell  my  rethjubts.  j 

17th.  Gen.  Stewart  came  to  my  ((uarlers  early  this  morniiifi.  at  (i  a.m., 
anil  we  went  alon<i  the  line.  We  returned  and  liad  l)reakfast.  Then  tlie 
artillery,  as  usual,  bej^an  at  the  redoubt  in  front  of  the  house.  As  the  siiells 
ercssed  the  road  on  l)oth  sides  of  the  house,  it  wasdanjjerous  to  leave,  and 
he  remained  an  hour  or  more. 

Ill  the  evening  1  was  sitting  on  the  fence  enjoying  my  pipe  wliile  watch- 
ing the  explosion  of  the  shells,  when  who  should  riile  up  but  Gen.  M.  Jeff. 
Thompson,  and  he  was  invited  to  our  quarters.  I  could  not  keep  from 
laughing.  I  have  an  illustrated  eo|)y  of  the  illustrious  Don  Quixote,  and 
liere  Avas  a  dujilicate  picture,  or  rather  here  before  me  was  the  Don  him- 
self, in  form  and  features,  and  if  Sanchohad  seen  .JetT  lie  would  have  called 
him  "Master."  He  passed  the  night  wilh  us.  entertaining  us  with  his  ad- 
ventures in  tlie  West.     In  the  morning  he  went  to  see  his  Mis.souri  friends. 

18th.  The  Yankees  must  be  angry.  Because  eay  batteries  dared  to  wake 
them  up  with  a  few  shells  they  raised — well — (I  begin  it  with  a  "w")  and 
never  ceased  until  2  p.m.,  and  they  threw  not  less  than  two  thousand  .shot 
at  us,  and  accomplished  nothing,  only  one  shell  went  by  accident  through 
our  house. 

lyth,  20th,  21st,  22d.  These  days  witnessed  the  usual  expenditure  of  am- 
munition. On  the  31st  Lieut.  Col.  McDowell  was  killed  in  the  rear  of  our 
second  skirmish  line.  What  an  excellent  man  and  gallant  officer  gave  his 
life  for  the  Confederacy!     Peace  to  him  and  his  friends! 

23d.     Firing  as  usual. 

24th.  The  enemy  tired  hot  shot  on  the  city  all  last  night,  and  to-day 
they  set  on  tire  some  cotton,  and  burned  a  few  houses. 

25th.     I  wrote  to  Judge  Ould.     Firing  as  usual. 

26th.  This  morning  at  daylight  I  Avas  informed  that  the  enemy  had 
abandoned  their  works  on  my  right  and  front  nearly  to  my  left.  1  found 
everything  in  their  works  horriblj'  filthy,  and  alive  with  "dog  ""  Hies  to  such 
an  extent  that  our  horses  could  not  be  managed.  The  clothing,  new  and 
old,  was  covered  with  vermin.  My  servant  boys  carried  some  jackets 
home  that  had  to  be  buried.  Their  line  of  works  was  very  strong.  1  found 
the  brick  furnace  where  they  made  "shot  red  hot"  to  lire  day  and  night 
at  intervals  to  burn  the  city.  At  first  little  "niggers"  got  their  lingers 
burned  picking  them  up  to  sell  to  tht^  ordnance  department.  Again  on 
my  skirmLsh  line  this  evening  was  another  good  officer  killed.  Lieut.  Col. 
Samuels  fell  from  a  ritle  ball.  From  Decatur  all  the  way  around  to  the 
Turner's  Ferry  road  the  enemy  has  moved  to  our  left.  .  .  .  There  are 
no  tlies  or  vermin  in  our  camp — strange  but  true. 

27th.  I  made  a  reconnoissance  with  two  l)rigailes  and  artillery  to  Tur- 
ner's Ferry  over  the  Chattahoochee  river.  We  had  a  tight  tliere  and  cap- 
tured some  prisoners.  They  tokl  me  that  the  place,  as  I  could  see,  was 
strongly  fortified;  that  the  Twentieth  Corps  (Hooker's)  occupied  the  work; 
that  Hooker  had  gone  and  Slocum  was  in  command.  I  think  they  told 
me  this,  although  not  named  in  my  diary.     We  slept  in  peace. 

28th.     I  rode  through  the  city.     To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  terrible  mus- 


222  Tyvo  IVaks. 

ketry  tire,  in  an  open  Held  between  their  picket  line  and  mine  one  l)ri^ade 
picked  np  abont  Hve  tliunsand  pounds  of  lead  balls  that  hail  been  lired  on 
the  lines.  The  ground  was  literally  covm'd  ^vith  them — oxidized  white 
like  hailstones.  Trees  three  and  four  inches  in  diameter  in  front  of  my 
line  were  cut  down  by  l)alls.  The  lead  was  sold  to  the  ordnance  offieei'S, 
and  the  weitJjht  was  thus  known. 

29th.  HOth.  Our  trooi)S  are  movino;  to  the  left.  Six  of  our  men  crossed 
the  river  and  captured  nine  men  and  two  wagons. 

31st.  Featherston  and  Walthall  have  been  withdruwn  from  the  city. 
My  division  and  some  State  troops  untler  the  charge  of  Gen.  G.  W.  .Smith 
alone  are  in  the  city  to-day.  Some  cavalry  scouts  followed  mj  scouts 
nearly  into  the  city.  Firing  is  heanl  on  our  left.  The  railroad  to  Macon 
was  cut  to-day.     This  is  unpleasant  news. 

September  1.  This  morning  the  news  is  that  Hardee  had  failed  to  dis- 
lodge Sherman  from  his  position.  Everything  indicates  that  Atlanta  is  to 
be  aljandoned,  and  before^ioon  the  order  came.  1  became  the  rear  guard. 
There  is  confusion  in  the  city,  and  some  of  the  soldiers  in  the  town  are 
drunk.  Common  sense  is  wanted.  The  tive  heavy  guns  thai  1  had  ordered 
to  be  spiked  by  the  rear  guard  at  11  p.m.  were  burned  b}'  order  of  the  chief 
of  ordnance  at  5  p.m..  a  i)roclamation  to  the  enemj'  in  my  front  that  we 
were  evacuating  the  place.  As  soon  as  I  stai'lcd  to  leave  the  works  some 
of  Hood's  officers  fired  the  ordnance  trains.  This  should  have  Ijeen  done 
the  last  of  all,  when  the  rear  guard  or  pickets  were  withdrawn .  Who  would 
extinguish  an  ordnance  train  of  bursting  shells?  So  lighted  by  the  glare 
of  tii'es.  Ha.shes  of  powder,  and  Irarsting  shells,  I  slowly  left  Atlanta,  and  at 
daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  we  were  not  live  miles  oul  of  the  city. 
I  started  soon  after  for  Lovejoy's  Station. 

3d.  Featherston  look  the  advance.  Last  evening  artillery  was  heard 
at  LoA^ejoy's  Station.  Hardee  was  holding  in  check  all  of  Siierman"s  army 
excej)t  the  Twentieth  Corps,  and  we  are  marcjiing  to  his  a.ssistaiicc.  I 
passed  S.  D.  Lee's  Corps  on  the  road.  It  was  yesterda}'  at  Rough  and 
Ready.  This  is  attacking  m  dilail  as  usual.  On  arrival  my  division  was 
onlered  to  relieve  Gen.  Brown's.  After  dark  I  was  ordered  to  move  to  my 
left  and  (ien.  (Juist  to  his  right  to  exchange  positions.  This  was  a  delib- 
erately i)lann('d  trick  of  Hardee's  to  put  me  in  one  side  of  a  salient  angle 
that  was  subject  to  a  rcvcr.se  lire  of  artillery  from  the  enemy. 

4th.     This  morning  cannonading  was  not  so  ra])id. 

5th.  Last  night  I  made  a  change  of  ])osition.  Firing  as  usual.  'While 
I  was  on  the  line  Capt.  Kennerlj'  (Mrs.  Howen's  brother)  and  four  others 
were  killed  and  five  wounded.     During  the  day  1  lost  forty  men. 

(jth.  It  was  now  discovered  that  the  enemy  were  falling  back  to  take 
po.ssession  of  Atlanta,  now  abandoned.  GaveCockrell  ])ermi.ssion  to  ])ur- 
sue  them,  and  he  skirmished  with  their  rear  guard  and  killed  many  of  them 
and  returned  wilh  (j\'er  twenty  ])risoners. 

7th.  H{\\.  and  Dili.      |  Diary  recortls  no  important  events.  1 

10th.  A  communication  from  Sherman  to  Hood  was  received  stating 
that  the  citizens  of  Atlanta  nmst  leave.  Tho.se  who  so  elect  will  be  sent 
to  the  North.  The  remainder  will  be  sent  Soutii.  The  work  is  to  com- 
mence on  Monday.  There  are  about  eighteen  thousand  people  in  the  city. 
I  am  told  that  he  also  olTers  to  exchange  ])risoners.  provided  he  should  re- 
ceive onl}'  men  who  have  yet  two  years  to  serve  in  the  United  States  army. 
Prisoners  who  have  served  out  the  jjeriodof  theirenlistment,  or  have  only 
a  short  time  to  serve,  will  not  be  received.     Gen.  Loi-ing  returned  to-day. 


ClIAPTEK  XVI. 

THK  liATTLK  OF  ALLATOOXA. 

From  I^ovejoy's  to  l^ost  Mount iiiu^Big  Shanty —Acworth— Destroying 
Kailroail— in  the  Rear  of  Sherman— Situation  of  the  Two  Armies— Or- 
ders to  Destroy  the  Etowah  River  Bridge— To  Fill  Up  the  Railroad  Cut 
at  Allatoona— HoodNot  Aware  that  Allatoona  Was  Fortified  and  Garri- 
soned— March  to  Allatoona— Summons  to  Surrender— No  Answer— Gen. 
Corse's  Report  Erroneous— The  Fortiticat ions— Strength  of  Forces — 
Equalization  of  Forces— Some  Federal  Dispatches  The  Battle— Corse's 
Account— Col.  Ludlow's  Description— Desperate  Fighting— The  Main 
Line  Captured— Enemy  Driven  into  an  Interior  Fort— Dispatches  from 
Gen.  Armstrong  Respecting  Movements  of  the  Enemy  at  Big  Shanty- 
Withdraw  to  Avoitl  Being  Surrounded  l)y  Converging  Forces— Corse's 
Dispatch  to  Sherman — Provisions— Confederates  Tliree  Days  and  Nights 
without  Rest  or  Sleep— Pass  by  the  Enemj^- Evangelist  P.  P.  Bliss 
Writes  the  (Gosjiel)  Hymn.  ••HoUl  the  Fort  "—Hood  and  His  Erroneous 
Pui)lications  in  His  Book— His  Admiration  for  Corse— My  Admiration 
for  the  Confederates— The  Soldier's  Grave— The  Lone  Grave— Lieut. 
Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart's  Note  in  Reganl  to  This  Account  of  the  Battle. 

September  29.  This  morning  Loring's.  Walthall's,  and  my  divisions 
moved  on  the  Pumpkintou  roatl  and  cr<if<SLd  the  Chattdhoodux  river  and  en- 
camped beyond  Villa  Rica.  The  following  day  we  marched  to  near  Browns- 
ville Post  Office. 

Saturday,  October  1.  1  remained  in  camp.  At  10  a.>i.  all  the  divi-sion 
commanders  were  invited  to  Gen.  Hood's  headquarters,  ami  the  object  of 
the  move  was  discussed.  I  found  in  the  room  on  \xxy  arrival  Gens.  Stew- 
art, S.  D.  Lee,  Loring,  Walthall,  Stevenson,  and  Clayton.  As  soon  as  I 
entered  the  room  Hood  said  to  me:  "Gen.  French,  what  do  you  think  Gen 
Sherman  will  do  now.'  "  I  replied:  "I  sui)pose  he  will  turn  southwest  and 
move  on  to  Mobile:  or  he  may  go  to  Augusta  to  destroy  our  {)owder  mills, 
and  then  make  for  Charleston  or  Savannah."  "In  that  event  do  you  be- 
lieve he  can  sustain  his  troops  on  the  march  if  our  cavalry  lay  waste  the 
country  before  him'?  "  I  answered:  "He  will  find  all  he  wants  as  he  moves 
on."  To  this  Hood  replied:  "Well,  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  that,  as  the 
President  has  promised  to  attend  to  that  matter."  Every  olficcr  present 
disagreed  with  me  save  Gen.  S.  D.  Lee.  He  thought  all  would  have  diffi- 
culty to  subsist  except  the  cavalry. 

On  the  subject  of  destroying:  Sherman's  conumiuic-ulions  my 
diary  says: 

I  was  in  favor  of  an  immediate  move  on  tiir  railroad  above  Kennesaw 
with  the  jvhole  army,  and  expressed  my  regrets  at  the  delay. 

I  received  oi'ders  to  move  to-morrow.     We  were  requested  to  Inform 


O  DR.  SMITH's-\WHtRt  CONFLOERATf  TROOPS  tNCMPLD 
ON  WIGHT  OF    OCTOBtR  ',  [H  POUTf  TO   NEW  K«PC  CHURCH 


Battle  OF  Allatooxa.  225 

the  britjade  commanders  of  the  ohjcctt  of  nioviii<f  in  the  rear  of  Sherman's 
army,  ami  they  were  to  inform  the  regimental  and  company  oflicers. 

•2d.  I  left  camp  and  marched  to  Moon's,  and  thisbroughtus  tothesarae 
ground  we  occupied  on  the  24th  of  May. 

3d.  When  Sherman  tliscovered  that  Hood  had  crossed  the  Chattahoo- 
chee and  wasmarching  to  obtain  possession  of  his  line  of  communication,  he 
immediately  adopted  measures  to  defeat  Hootl's  plans  and  give  him  bat- 
tle. 

The  general  .situation  of  liic  two  a  rm'u'.s  to-day  is:  Sherman's  main  body 
of  troops  is  at  Atlanta,  with  garrisons  at  the  Chattahoochee,  Vining's,  Ma- 
rietta. Kennesaw,  Big  Shanty,  Moon's,  Acworth,  Allatoona  Creek,  Allatoo 
na  fortifications  garrisoned  by  just  about  one  thousand  men.  Gen.  Elliott, 
chief  of  cavalry,  with  his  command  at  Kennesaw,  Gen.  J.  E.  Smith,  with 
his  division,  at  Cartersville,  Gen.  J.  M.  Corse  at  Rome  with  a  division,  and 
the  garrisons  at  important  places  on  up  to  Chattanooga,  as  disclosed  by 
the  movements  of  troops,  dispatches  sent  directing  their  movements,  and 
sulxseiiuent  information. 

Hood's  army  marched  to  Lost  Mountain,  where  he  remained  with  two 
corps,  while  Stewart "s  Corps  went  thence  in  the  rear  of  the  enemj^'s  line 
of  fortifications  to  Big  Shanty.  Gen.  Featherston  captured  some  fortj" 
prisoners  at  Big  Shanty,  and  commenced  destroying  the  railroad.  Lor- 
ing,  sent  to  Acworth  (near  Allatoona),  captured  about  two  hundred  pris- 
oners, and  Walthall  took  seventy  prisoners  at  Moon  Station.  All  night 
every  one  was  hard  at  work  tlestroying  the  railroad,  and  the  next  day  by 
noon  we  had  about  eight  miles  of  the  track  taken  up  and  the  rails  twisted. 

4th.  At  noon,  when  filling  up  the  railroad  cuts  at  Big  Shanty,  I  re- 
ceived orders  to  fill  uj)  the  deep  cut  of  the  railroail  at  Allatoona.  and  then, 
if  possible,  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Etowah  river.  Ai)out  this 
time  some  one  living  near  by  toUl  us  that  the  enemy  had  fortifications  at 
Allatoona,  well  garrisoned  and  commissary  stores  there.  Under  these 
peculiar  orders  (w^hich  will  be  given  in  full  hereafter  in  my  report)  I  left 
Big  Shanty  with  my  division  at  3  p.m.  for  Acworth  and  thence  to  Alla- 
toona, while  Loring  and  Walthall  were  ordered  in  the  direction  of  New 
Hope  Chui-ch.  I  was  now  entering  the  zone  of  active  movements  of  the 
Federals,  and  away  from  all  sup])ort.  and  all  support  fi-om  me,  and  the 
enemy  converging  on  Allatoona  from  all  directions.  I  reacshed  Acworth 
about  dark,  and  was  detained  there  till  11  p.m.,  awaiting  rations  and  get- 
ting some  one  for  a  guide.  I  saw  camp  tires  of  the  enemy  east  of  the  rail- 
road and  north  of  Kennesaw,  and  night  signals  from  Allatoona  to  Kenne- 
saw. From  two  young  ladies,  who  to-day  had  visited  Allatoona,  I  ob- 
tained the  name  of  the  commander  there,  and  the  probable  strength  of  the 
enemy  in  the  several  works.  I  also  succeeded,  through  some  of  the  citi- 
zens, in  getting  a  boy  for  a  guide.  I  moved  from  Acworth  about  11  p.m., 
and  on  arriving  at  Allatoona  (.'reek  I  left  there  the  Fourth  Mississippi 
Regiment  and  one  piece  of  artillery,  with  instructions  to  burn  the  bridge 
and  capture  the  garrison  of  one  hundred  men  in  the  blockhouse.  When 
at  Acworth  1  sent  lifteen  men  from  a  Capt.  Taylor's  company  of  caval- 
ry. Pinson's  Regiment,  to  strike  the  railVoad  near  the  Etowah  river  and 
15 


226  Tivo  M'ars. 

tear  up  the  track  to  prevent  rei-nforeemeiits  from  reaehing  AUatoona.  I 
moved  on  then  from  the  creek,  and  arrivetl  before  AUatoona  about  3  a.m. 
All  was  darkness;  nothino-  could  be  seen  except  occasional  lights  Hitting 
about  the  place.  I  put  the  artillery,  eleven  guns,  in  position,  or  rather 
left  them  in  what  the  guide  said  was  a  good  place,  and  also  left  two  regi- 
ments of  Ector's  Brigade  under  Col.  Andrews  as  a  support  to  them.  With 
the  guide  directing.  1  moved  the  division  to  gain  the  flank  and  rear  of  the 
line  of  works.  There  were  five  detached  works  on  the  liigh  ridge  through 
which  the  Western  and  Atlantic  railroad  runs.  No  road  leads  to  this  ridge 
excejjt  the  Cartersville  road,  that  ascends  the  ridge  by  a  winding  ascent, 
and  enters  the  works.  ])assing  within  a  few  feet  of  the  main  redoubt,  un- 
der its  guns,  and  then  runs  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge  for  two  hundred  and 
fifty  j^ards  to  where  it  passes  out  through  the  fortifications.  So  the  guide 
directed  us  through  the  dark  woods  and  up  the  steep,  rugged,  rocky  hills, 
and  down  into  deep  vallcysnntW  we  were  lost,  and  the  guide  acknowledged 
that  he  could  not  find  the  way.  This  determined  me  to  stop  and  rest  till 
<laylight.  The  ])ickets  had  been  driven  in,  and  now  and  then  shots  Avere 
e.xchanged.  Starting  again  at  dawn,  I  reached  the  high  ritlge  on  Avhich 
the  redoubts  were  at  7:30  a.m.  with  the  leading  brigade.  I  halted  Cock- 
relTs  and  Ector's  Brigades  on  the  ridge,  and  sent  Gen.  Sears  to  gain  the 
rear  of  the  works.  The  artillerj'  opened  tire  on  the  forts  (one  on  either 
side  of  the  railroad)  about  7  a.m..  and  when  we  gained  the  ridge  appeared 
to  keep  the  enemy  quiet. 

These  dispositions  Ijcing  made,  about  8  a.m.  I  summoned  the  command- 
er to  surrender  the  place.  I  then  sup])osed  the  garrison  consisted  of  only 
about  nine  hundred  men,  as  reported  to  me  at  Acworth.  Maj.  U.  W. 
Sanders  was  instructed  to  allow  about  twenty  minutes  for  the  officer  to 
Avhom  he  delivered  tlie  message  to  go  and  return  with  the  i"eply.  After 
waiting  longer  than  the  specified  time,  he  returned  without  an  answer. 
Believing  Sears  was  now  well  around  on  the  north  side,  and  having  waited 
to  hear  his  attack  so  long,  1  put  Cockrell's  Brigade  in  motion,  supported 
by  Ector's  Brigade  (of  four  regiments),  to  make  the  attack,  as  it  was  now 
10:20  a.m. 

The  three  companies  of  tlic  Nincty-Tiiird  Illinois  that  were  in  the  two 
extreme  west  redoubts  abandoned  them  without  making  much  resistance. 
and  fell  back  to  a  very  strong  line  of  defense  protected  by  all  the  entan- 
glements of  modern  warfare.  Through  the  center  of  this  work  ran  the 
Cartersville  road.  This  part  of  the  defensive  work  was  occujjied  by  the 
Thirty-Ninth  Iowa,  Seventh  Illinois,  and  seven  companies  of  the  Ninety- 
Third  Illinois,  making,  in  officers  and  men,  a  total  of  just  about  nine  hun- 
dred. Against  tliis  force,  placed  in  carefully  constructed  works,  1  could 
send  only  the  Missouri  brigade  and  four  regiments  of  the  Texas  brigade, 
in  all  one  thou.sand  three  hundred  and  iifty.  I  had  been  informed  by 
Gen.  Armstrong  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  moving  up  east  of  the  rail- 
road. Then  again  I  received  from  him  a  second  dispatch  informing  me 
that  the  Federal  infantry  was  passing  through  Big  Shanty  and  moving  uj) 
the  railroad.  This  dispatch  was  dated  U  a.m.  Knowing  tliat  this  column 
could  reach  the  junction  of  the  Sandtown  and  Dallas  roads  before  I  could, 
I  determiiierl  to  withdraw,  trusting  to  arrive  there  first. 


F.   M.    COCKKELL 


Battle  of  Allatoona.  229 

But  as  all  these  matters  are  nioic  fully  referred  to  in  my  re- 
port, I  Avill  liorc  (luit,  for  the  })resonl.  further  extracts  from  my 
diary,  and  ^\\v  the  report. 

In  Vohmie  39,  Series  1,  page  SI-1-,  will  he  found  in  the  ''  War 
Records''  the  followinir  rc])Oi't: 

Headc^uahteks  FiiENcns  Division,    / 
TuscuMBiA,  Ala.,  November  5,  1864.  > 

Qcncral:  Sometime  since  I  had  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  a  brief  pre- 
liminary report  of  the  battle  of  Allatoona.  As  the  report  of  the  brigade 
commanders  are  now  in,  1  have  the  honor  to  forward  one  embracing  some 
of  the  details  of  the  battle. 

About  noon  on  the  4th  of  October,  when  at  Big  Shanty,  the  following 
order  was  handed  me  by  Lieut.  Gen.  Stewart,  it  being  a  copy  of  one  to 
him: 

liEADgi  AKTEKs  AuMY  OF  TENNESSEE.  Octoljcr  4.  1804,  7::5()  A..M. 
Lieut.  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart,  Coininanding  Corps. 

General:  Gen.  Hood  directs  that  later  in  the  evening  yon  move  Stev- 
enson back  to  Davis's  Cro.ss  Roads,  and  that  you  bring  two  of  your  divi- 
sions back  to  Adams's  and  between  Adams's  and  Davis's  Cro.ss  Roads, 
placing  them  in  such  a  way  as  to  cover  the  position  at  Adams's  now  occu- 
pied by  Stevenson,  and  that  your  third  division  (say  French)  shall  move 
up  the  railroad  and  Ml)  up  the  deep  cut  at  Allatoona  with  logs,  brush, 
rails,  dirt,  etc.  To-morrow  morning  at  daylight  he  desires  Stevenson  to 
be  moved  to  Lieut.  Gen.  Lee's  actual  left,  that  two  of  your  divisions  at  that 
time  at  Adams's  shall  draw  back,  with  your  left  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Davis's  Cross  Roads,  and  your  right  in  the  neighl)orhood  of  Lost  Moun- 
tain, and  the  division  that  will  have  gone  to  Allatoona  to  march  thence  to 
New  Hope  Church  and  on  the  position  occupied  by  your  other  troops — that 
is,  that  the  division  shall  rejoin  your  command  by  making  this  march  out 
from  the  railroad  and  via  New  Hope.  Gen.  Hood  thinks  that  it  is  proljable 
that  the  guard  at  the  railroad  bridge  on  Etowah  is  small,  and  when  French 
goes  to  Allatoona,  if  he  can  get  such  information  as  would  justify  him,  if 
possible  move  to  that  l)ridge  and  destroy  it.  Gen.  Hood  considers  its  de- 
struction would  be  a  great  advantage  to  the  array  and  the  country,  Should 
he  be  able  to  destroy  the  bridge,  in  coming  out  he  could  move,  as  has  been 
heretofore  indicated,  via  New  Hope. 

Yours  respectfully,  A.  P.  Mason, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Soon  after  an  oi'der,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy,  was  sent  me: 

Headquarters  Army  of  Tennessee,  } 

Office  of  the  Chief  of  Staff,  October  4,  1864,  11:30  a.m.  f 

Lieut.  Gen.  Stewart,  Comniandint;. 

General :  Gen.  Hood  directs  me  to  say  that  it  is  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance to  destroy  the  Etowah  railroad  bridge,  if  such  a  thing  is  possible. 
From  the  best  information  we  have  now  he  thinks  the  enemy  cannot  dis- 
turb us  before  to-inorroiv,  and  by  that  time  your  main  l)ody  will  be  near  the 
remainder  of  our  army.  He  suggests  that  if  it  be  considered  ])racticable 
to  destroy  the  bridge  when  the  division  goes  there  and  the  artillery  is  placed 
in  position  the  commanding  olVicer  shall  call  for  volunteers  to  go  to  the 
bridge  with  lightwood  anil  oilier  combustil)le  material  that  can  be  obtained, 
and  set  lire  to  it. 

Yours  respectfully.  A.  P.  Mason, 

Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


230  Two  Wars. 

Gen.  Stewarfs  Corps  had  strui-k  llic  railroad  at  Big  Shanty  on  thoevt-n- 
ine:  of  the  3d,  and  all  three  of  his  ilivisious  had  worked  all  night  destroy- 
ing the  railroad  from  near  Keunesaw  up  to  Acworth  Station.  As  we  liad 
been  informed  at  Big  Shanty  that  the  Allatoona  pass  or  cut  was  fortilied. 
and  that  the  enemy  had  a  garrison  there  of  three  regiments,  and  had  ac- 
cumulated a  considerable  amount  of  provisions,  it  was  considered  a  mat- 
ter of  importance  that  the  place  should  be  captured,  and  after  the  orders 
were  handed  me,  at  my  request.  Gen.  Stewart  sent  me  (with  Maj.  Myrick) 
four  additional  pieces  of  artillery.  li  ivould  appear,  however,  from  these 
orders  that  the  general  in  chief  was  not  aware  that  the  pass  was  fortified  and 
garrisoned  that  I  was  sent  to  have  filled  up.  Under  these  orders  I  left  Big 
Shanty  about  3:80  p.m.,  and  marched  to  Acworth.  a  distance  of  six  miles, 
arriving  there  before  sunset.  There  I  was  detained,  awaiting  the  arrival 
of  I'ations  and  cooking  them,  until  11  p.m. 

As  I  knew  nothing  of  the  roads,  the  enemy's  works  or  position,  it  was 
impoi'tant  to  procure  aguide.  and  at  last  a  young  man,  or  rather  boy,  was 
found  who  knew  the  roads,  and  had  seen  the  position  of  the  fortifications 
at  Allatoona.  he  being  a  member  of  a  cavalry  companj'.  At  Acworth 
Capt.  Taylor,  of  Pinson's  Regiment  of  cavalry,  with  twenty-five  men.  re- 
ported to  me  fen"  duty.  He  was  immediately  directed  to  send  fifteen  men 
under  a  trusty  officer  to  strike  the  railroad  as  near  the  Etowah  railroad 
bridge  as  possible,  and  take  up  the  rails  and  hide  or  destroy  them,  to  pre- 
vent trains  from  reaching  Allatoona  with  recnforcements,  as  well  as  to 
prevent  any  trains  that  might  Ije  there  from  escaping.  From  an  eminence 
near  Acworth  the  enemy  could  be  seen  communicating  messages  by  their 
night  signals  from  Allatoona  with  the  station  on  Kennesaw;  and  to  the  east 
of  us  were  the  fires  of  a  large  encampment  of  the  Federals  and  appai'ently 
opposite  Moon's  Station.  Citizens  residing  here  informed  me  that  there 
was  a  blockhouse  with  a  garrison  of  about  one  hundred  men  at  the  Alla- 
toona bridge;  that  at  Allatoona  there  were  two  small  redoubts  with  out- 
works, defended  with  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  garrisoned  with  tliree 
and  a  half  regiments  of  infantry.  About  11  p.m.  the  march  was  resumed. 
The  night  was  very  dark,  and  the  roads  bad.  After  crossing  Allatoona 
creek.  Col.  Adaire,  with  his  Fourth  Regiment,  Mississippi  Volunteers,  and 
one  piece  of  artillery,  was  left  near  the  blockhouse  with  instructions  to 
surround  it,  capture  the  garrison,  and  destroy  the  bridge  oxer  the  creek. 
Continuing  the  march,  the  division  arrived  before  Allatoona  about  3  a.m. 
Nothing  could  be  seen  but  one  or  two  twinkling  lights  on  the  opposite 
heights,  and  nothing  was  heard  except  the  occasional  interchange  of  shots 
between  our  advanced  guards  and  the  pickets  of  the  garrison  in  the  val- 
ley below.  All  was  darkness.  I  had  no  knowledge  of  the  place,  and  it 
was  important  to  attack  at  the  break  of  day.  Taking  the  guide  and  lights. 
I  placed  the  artillery  in  position  on  the  hillssouth  and  east  of  the  railroad, 
and  the  Thirtj'-Ninth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  under  Col.  Coleman,  and 
the  Thirty-Second  Te.xas  were  left  as  a  sii])porting  force,  both  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  J.  A.  Andrews,  commanding  the  latter  regiment.  This  be- 
ing done.  I  proceeded  with  the  guide  to  gain  the  heights,  or  ridge,  crowned 
]jy  the  works  of  the  enemy.     Without  roads  or  paths  the  head  of  the  line 


232  Two  Wahs. 

readied  the  railroad,  crossed  it,  and  began  ascending  and  descending  the 
high,  steep,  antl  densely  limbered  spurs  of  the  mountains,  and  after  about 
an  hour's  march  it  was  found  that  we  were  directly  in  front  of  the  works, 
and  not  on  the  main  ridge.  The  guide  made  a  second  effort  to  gain  the 
ridge,  aiul  failed,  .so  dark  was  it  in  the  woods.  I  therefore  determineil  to 
rest  where  we  were  and  await  daylight.  With  the  dawn  t'.ie  march  was 
resumed,  and  tinally,  by  7:80  a.m.,  the  head  of  the  column  was  on  the 
ridge  about  six  hundred  yards  west  of  the  main  fortifications,  and  between 
those  he  occupied  and  an  abandoned  reiloubt  on  our  left. 

Here  the  fortifications,  for  the  first  time,  were  seen,  and  instead  of  two 
redoubts  there  Avere  disclosed  to  us  three  redoubts  on  the  Avest  of  the  rail- 
road cut.  and  a  star  fort  on  the  east  Avith  outer  Avorks  and  approaches  de- 
fended to  a  great  distance  bj^  abatis,  and  neai-er  the  Avorks  by  stockades 
and  other  obstructions.  The  railroad  emerges  from  the  Allatoona  Moun- 
tain by  crossing  this  ridge  through  a  cut  sixty- li\e  feet  ileep.  Dispositions 
for  the  assault  were  now  made  by  sending  Gen.  Sears's  Brigade  to  the 
north  side  or  rear  of  the  works,  (Jen.  F.  M.  Cockrell's  (Mis.souri)  Brigade 
to  rest  Avith  its  center  on  the  ridge,  while  Gen.  W.  H.  Young,  Avith  the  four 
Texas  regiments,  Avas  found  in  the  rear  of  Gen.  Cockrell. 

Maj.  Myrick  hatl  opened  on  the  Avorks  with  his  artilkny,  and  Avas  or- 
dered to  continue  his  fire  until  the  attacking  foi'ce  should  interfere,  or  un- 
til he  heard  the  volleys  of  musketry. 

Gen.  Sears  was  to  commence  the  assault  on  the  rear,  and  when  mus- 
ketry Avas  heard  Gen.  Cockrell  was  to  move  down  the  ridge,  supported  by 
Gen.  Young,  and  carry  the  Avorks  by  (as  it  were)  a  Haidv  at  tack.  So  rugged 
anil  abrupt  Avere  the  hills  that  the  troops  could  not  be  gotten  into  position 
until  about  9  a.ai.,  when  I  sent  a  summons  to  surrender.  The  flag  Avas 
met  by  a  Federal  staff  officer,  and  he  was  alloAved  seventeen  minutes  to 
return  an  ansAver.  The  time  expired  Avithout  any  ansAver  being  received, 
Avhereupon  Maj.  1).  W.  Sanders,  impatient  at  the  delay,  broke  off  the  in- 
tervicAv  and  returned.  No  reply  being  sent  me,  the  order  was  given  for 
the  assault  by  directing  the  advance  of  CockrelTs  Brigade.  Emerging 
from  the  Avoods  and  passing  over  a  long  distance  of  abatis  formed  of  felled 
timber,  and  under  a  severe  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  nobly  did  it 
press  forAvard,  folloAved  by  the  gallant  Texans.  The  enemy's  outer  line 
and  one  redoubtsoon  fell.  Resting  to  gather  strength  and  survey  the  Avork 
before  them,  again  they  rushed  forward  in  column,  and  in  a  murderous 
hand-to-hand  conflict  that  left  the  ditches  tilled  with  the  dciul  tlicy  became 
masters  of  the  second  redoubt. 

The  third  and  main  redoubt,  now  liiled  by  those  driven  from  the  cap- 
tured Avorks  on  the  Avestside  of  the  railroad,  was  further  crowded  by  those 
that  were  coming  out  of  the  fort  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  from  the  at- 
tack of  Gen.  Sears.  The.y  had  to  cross  the  dee])  cut,  through  Avhich  our 
artillery  poured  a  steady  and  deadly  lire.  The  Federal  forces  Avere  noAv 
confined  to  one  redoubt,  and  we  occupied  the  ditch  and  almost  entirely  si- 
lenced their  fire,  and  were  preparing  for  the  final  attack. 

Pending  the  progress  of  these  events  I  had  received  a  note  from  Gen.  F. 
'C.  Armstrong,  dated  7  a.m.,  asking  me  at  Avhat  time  I  Avould  move  toward 


The  Attack  ox  Allatooxa.  233 

New  Hope,  and  int'oniiing  me  also  that  the  enemy  lia<l  moved  up  east  of 
the  railroad  above  Kennesaw  and  encamped  there  last  niirht.  I  had  ol)- 
served  this  movement  when  at  Acworth,  but  at  12  .M.  I  received  another 
dispatch  from  him.  written  at  9  A.M..  .saying:  "Mj'^  scouts  report  the  ene- 
m}''s  infantry  advancing  up  the  railroad.  They  are  now  entering  Hig 
Shanty.     They  have  a  cavalry  force  east  of  the  railroad." 

On  the  receipt  of  this  second  note  from  G»mi.  Armsti'ong  I  took  my  guide 
aside  and  pa)tlcu]arly  asked  him  if.  after  the  capture  of  the  pl^ce.  I  could 
move  to  New  Hope  Church  l)v  any  other  route  than  the  one  hy  the  block- 
house at  Allatoona  creek  and  tlicnce  l)v  the  Sandtown  road  to  the  Ac- 
worth  and  Dallas  road,  antl  he  said  1  could  not.  Here,  then,  was  Gen. 
Sherman's  whole  army  close  behind  me,  and  the  advance  of  his  infantry 
moving  on  Acworth,  which  changed  the  whole  condition  of  affairs.  Am- 
munition had  to  l)e  carried  from  the  wagons,  a  mile  distant  at  the  base  of 
the  hills,  by  men,  and  I  was  satisfied  that  it  would  take  two  hours  to  get 
it  U])  autl  disti'il)ute  it  under  fire  before  tlie  tinal  assault.  1  had  learned 
from  ])risoners  that  before  daylight  the  j)lace  had  been  reeiiforced  by  a 
brigade  untierGen.  Corse.  I  knew  the  enemy  was  at  Big  Shanty  at  9  a.:m. 
By  noon  he  could  reach  Acworth  and  be  within  two  miles  of  the  road  on 
which  I  was  to  reach  New  Hope  Church.  I  knew  Gen.  Stewart  had  been 
ordered  to  near  Lost  Mountain.  ]\Iy  men  had  marched  all  day  on  the  3d: 
worked  all  the  night  of  tlie  3d  destroying  the  railroad:  that  they  had  worked 
and  marched  all  day  on  the  4th;  marched  to  Allatoona  on  the  night  of  the 
4th:  had  fought  up  to  the  afternoon  of  the  otli:  and  could  they  pass  the  en- 
tire thinl  day  and  night  without  rest  or  sleep  if  we  remained  to  assault  the 
remaining  works?  I  did  not  doubt  that  the  enemy  Avould  endeavor  to  get 
in  my  rear  to  intercept  my  return. 

He  was,  in  the  morning,  but  three  hours  distant,  and  had  been  signaled 
to  repeatedly  during  the  battle.  Under  these  circumstances  I  determined 
to  withdraw,  however  depressing  the  idea  of  not  capturing  the  place  after 
so  many  had  fallen,  and  when  in  all  probability  we  could  force  a  surren- 
der before  night.  Yet,  however  desirov;s  I  was  of  remaining  before  the 
last  work  and  forcing  a  capitulation,  or  of  carrying  this  interior  work  Ijy 
assault,  I  deemed  it  of  more  importance-  not  to  permit  the  enemy  to  cut 
my  division  off  from  the  army.  After  deliberatelj'  .surveying  matters  as 
they  ijresented  themselves  to  me,  1  sent  to  Gen.  Sears  to  withdraw  his  men 
at  once,  moving  by  the  route  he  went  in.  and  directed  Gen.  Cockrell  to 
commence  withdrawing  at  1:30  p.m. 

Before  the  action  commenced  it  was  foreseen  that  it  would  be  im))ossi- 
ble  to  carry  any  Avounded,  on  litters,  to  the  road  where  the  ambulances 
were  placed,  owing  to  the  steepness  of  the  hills,  the  ravines,  and  the  flense 
woods.  Accordingly  the  wountled  were  brought  to  the  springs  near  the 
ridge.  All  who  could  be  moved  without  the  use  of  litters  were  taken  to 
the  ambulances.  The  others  were  left  in  charge  of  surgeons  detailed  to 
remain  with  them. 

The  troops  re-formed  on  the  original  ground,  west  of  the  works,  and 
marched  to  the  south  side  near  the  artillery,  and  at  3:30  p.m.  commenced 
the  move  toward  New  Hope.     After  the  troops  left  I  rode  on  down  to  Col. 


234  Tfvo  Wars. 

AndreAvs's  position  in  front  of  tlic  woi-ks  and  (Hi-ccifd  liini  lo]r('ni:iiir^uiilil 
5  r.M..  and  then  withdraw  and  move  on  in  our  rrar. 

Before  I  commenced  to  withdraw  the  infantry  from  the  captured  works 
(but  after  the  guide  said  I  would  have  to  return  by  the  way  I  came)  I  sent 
orders  to  Maj.  ]\l3'rick  to  send  two  batteries  and  caissons  to  a  point  beyond 
the  blockhouse  on  tlie  Sandlown  road,  to  act  in  concert  with  tlie  troops  left 
there.  Having  been  informed  by  Col.  Andrews  that  the  blockhouse  at  the 
AlhUoona  bridge  had  not  been  captured,  I  directed  Capt.  Koll),  with  his 
battery  that  had  remained  with  (!ol.  Andrews,  to  move  on  and  report  to 
Gen.  Cockrell  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  blockhouse. 

Shortly  after  4  p.m.,  ami  when  not  a  person  could  be  seen  in  or  around 
the  forts,  I  left  the  command  of  Col.  Andrews  and  overtook  the  division 
near  the  blockhouse.  Col.  Adaire  had  burned  the  railroad  bridge  over 
Allatoona  creek  (over  two  hundred  feet  long),  and  also  the  duplicate  of 
the  bridge.  Avhich  had  been  already  framed  to  replace  the  old  structure. 
Under  the  increased  artillery  lire  the  garrison  of  the  blockhouse  surren- 
dered. 

We  cai)turc(l  two  hundred  and  live  prisoners,  one  United  States  tlag, 
and  the  colors  of  the  Ninety-Third  Regiment  of  Illinois,  a  number  of 
horses,  arms,  etc.,  and  killed  and  wounded  seven  hundred  and  fifty  of  the 
enemy,  being,  with  the  garrison  of  the  blockhouse,  over  one  thousand. 

History  will  record  the  battle  of  Allatoona  one  of  the  most  sanguinary 
of  the  war:  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  enemy  fought  from  within 
their  strong  redoubts  the  desperate  deeds  of  daring  performed  bj'  our 
troops  in  overcoming  so  many  of  the  foe  will  win  a  meed  of  praise  for 
liicir  heroic  valor. 

I'he  artillery  opened  al)out  7  .\..m.,  and.  (^\cc])t  when  the  Hag  of  truce 
was  sent  in,  continued  until  2  i-. m. 

The  attack,  commencing  about  10  A..M.,  continued  unremittingly  luitil 
1:;}()  r.M..  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  did  not  cease  entirely  until  3  r.M., 
when  it  died  away,  and  a  silence  like  the  pall  of  death  rested  over  the 
scene,  contrasting  strangely  with  the  previous  din  of  battle. 

I  cannot  do  justice  to  the  gallantry'  of  the  troo])S.  No  one  faltered  in 
his  duty,  and  all  withdrew  from  the  place  with  the  regret  that  (Jen.  Sher- 
man's movements — closing  up  Ipcliiiid  us  -forliade  our  remaining  longer 
to  force  a  suri'cnder  of  the  last  work. 

After  leaving  out  tin'  three  regiments  that  formed  ii()])art(>f  the  assault- 
ing force,  I  had  i)Ut  little  over  two  thousand  men. 

My  entirc'loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  was  799,  as  follows:  Cock- 
relTs  Brigade:  Killed,  42;  wounded,  182:  missing,  22.  Sears's  Brigade: 
Killed.  87:  wounded,  114:  missing,  200.  Ector's  Brigade:  Killed,  43: 
wounded,  147:  missing,  11.  Staff:  Captured,  1.  Total:  Killed.  122: 
wouiuled,  443:  missing.  233;  captured,  1.     Grand  total,  799. 

Among  the  killed  from  Sears's  Brigade  is  Col.  W.  II.  CHark,  Forty-Sixth 
Mississippi.  He  fell  in  the  advance,  near  the  enemy's  works,  with  the  bat- 
tle flag  in  his  hands.  He  was  an  excellent  and  a  gallant  officer.  Also, 
were  killed  Ca])t.  B.  Davidson  and  Lieiits.  (4.  C.  Edwards,  J.  K.  Henry. 
:iii(l  J.   I).   Davis.      Col.  W.  S.  Harry.  Tiii fly- Fifth  Mississippi,  and  Maj. 


.4'.-^ 

W' . 

1 

] 

f^\ 

-^  ^ 

\ 

^\} 

Mb 

■  1 

' 

:\IAJ.    1).   \V.   SANDEKS. 


Hfi'AVY  Losses.  237 

I'artin.  Thirty-Sixtli  Mississi])pi.  were  wouihUhI,  together  witli  ('ai)ts.  K. 
G.  Yates  and  A.  J.  Farmer  and  Lieuts.  J.  N.  McCoy,  (i.  H.  Baniiennan, 
J.  M.  Chadwiek,  J.  Copewood,  R.  E.  Jones,  E.  W.  Brown,  (i.  II.  M(jore. 
and  Ensigns  (J.  W.  Cannon  and  A.  Scarborougli. 

Texas  will  mourn  for  the  death  of  some  of  her  bravest  and  best  men. 
Capt.  Somerville,  Thirty-Second  Texas,  was  killed  after  vainly  endeavor- 
ing to  enter  the  last  work,  where  his  conspicuous  gallantry  had  carried 
him  and  his  little  band.  Ca[)ts.  Gibson.  Tenth  Texas,  Hates.  Ninth  Texas, 
Lieuts.  Alexander,  Twenty-Ninth  North  Carolina,  and  Dixon  hi.  Wetzel, 
Ninth  Texas,  were  killed  while  gallantly  leading  their  men. 

Brig.  Gen.  W.  H.  Young,  commanding  the  Texas  Brigade,  was  wounded. 
Most  gallantly  he  bore  his  part  in  the  action.  Col.  Camp,  Fourteenth 
Texas,  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the  service,  was  sei'iously  wounded.  Also 
Majs.  McKeynolds,  Ninth  Texas,  and  Purdy,  Fourteenth  Texas.  Of  the 
ca))tains  wounded  were  Wright,  Lyles.  Russell.  Vannoy,  and  Ridley,  and 
Lieuts.  Tunnell,  Haynes,  (iibbons.  Agee.  Morris.  O'Brien,  Irwin,  Reeves, 
and  Robertson. 

In  the  Missouri  Brigaile  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded  Majs.  W.  F. 
Carter  and  O.  A.  Waddell,  Capts.  A.  J.  Byrne,  A.  C.  Patton.  John  S.  Hol- 
land, Lieuts.  Thomas  S.  Shelly,  Joel  F.  Yancey,  G.  R.  Elliott,  R.  J.  Lamb. 
G.  T.  Duvall,  and  W.  H.  Dunnica,  and  Ensign  H.  W.  De  Jarnette — men 
who  had  behaved  well  and  nobly  during  the  whole  campaign. 

Among  the  wounded  are  Maj.  R.  J.  Williams,  Capts.  Thompson  Alvord, 
G.  McChristian,  G.  W.  Covell,  and  A.  F.  Burns,  Lieuts.  Joseph  Boyce,  Si- 
las H.  F.  Hornback,  J.  L.  Mitchell.  A.  H.  Todd,  and  H.  Y.  Anderson,  and 
Ensign  William  A.  Byrd. 

I  have  named  the  killed  and  wounded  officers  in  this  report.  The  names 
of  the  private  soldiers  who  fell  or  were  wounded  will  also  be  tiled  with  this 
as  soon  as  they  are  received.  It  is  due  to  the  dead,  it  is  just  to  the  living, 
that  they  who  have  no  hopes  of  being  heralded  by  fame,  and  who  have 
but  little  incentive  except  the  love  of  country  and  the  consciousness  of  a 
just  cause  to  impel  them  to  deeds  of  daring,  and  who  have  shed  their 
blood  for  a  just  cause,  should  have  this  little  tributes  paid  them  by  me, 
whose  joy  it  was  to  be  with  them. 

For  the  noble  dead  the  army  mourns,  a  nation  mourns.  Foi-the  living, 
honor  and  respect  will  await  them  wherever  they  shall  be  known,  as  faith- 
ful soldiers,  who,  for  their  dearest  rights,  have  so  often  gone  through  the 
fires  of  battle  and  the  l)aptism  of  blood.  It  would  perhaps  be  an  in\  idious 
distinction  to  name  individual  officers  or  men  for  marked  or  special  serv- 
ices or  distinguished  gallantry  where  all  behaved  so  well,  for  eai'th  never 
yielded  to  the  tread  of  nobler  soldiers. 

I  am  indelited  to  Gens.  Cockrell,  Sears,  and  Young  for  bravery,  skill, 
and  unHinching  firmness. 

To  Col.  Earp,  on  whom  the  command  of  the  gallant  Texans  devolved, 
and  to  C'ol.  Andrews,  who  commanded  on  the  south  side,  and  Maj.  My- 
rick,  commanding  the  artillery.  I  return  thanks  for  services.  Maj.  D.  W. 
■Sanders,  assistant  adjutant  general.  Lieut.  Wiley  Abercrombie,  aid,  Capt. 
W.  H.  Cain,  volunteer  aid,  ('apt.  Porter  and  Lieut.  Mosby,  engineers,  were 


238  Two  Wars. 

zealous  in  the  perfonuaiK-e  of  tlu'ir  duties,  and  F..  T.  Freeman,  assistant 
inspector  general,  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallant  conduct.  I  commend 
the  last-named  to  the  government  for  promotion. 

Col.  E.  Gates.  First  and  Third  Missouri,  Maj.  E.  H.  Hampton.  Twenty- 
Ninth  North  Carolina,  and  W.  J.  Sparks.  Tenth  Texas,  and  Lieut.  Cahal. 
of  Gen.  Stewart's  staif,  are  named  for  gallant  services. 

Lieut.  M.  W.  Armstrong,  Tenth  Texas,  seized  the  United  States  stand- 
ard from  the  Federals,  and  after  a  struggle  brought  it  and  the  bearer  of 
it  off  in  triumph. 

In  the  inclosed  reports  of  brigade  commanders  will  be  found  the  names 
of  mauA'  officers  and  soldiers  that  I  know  are  entitled  to  commendation 
and  all  mai'ks  of  distinction  that  the  government  can  award. 

The  cavahy  oflticer  who  was  sent  to  cut  the  railroad  (early  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  4th)  and  failed  to  perform  that  duty  is,  in  my  opinion,  much 
to  blame.  Had  he  taken  up  the  rails  (and  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  it), 
reenforcements  could  not  have  been  thrown  in  the  works,  and  the  result 
would  have  been  ditTerent.  After  events  showed  that  a  cavalry  force  and 
Corse's  other  brigade  arrived  Just  three  hours  after  we  left  Allatoona,  and  re- 
enforced  the  garrison  in  the  fort. 

Very  respectfully  submitted.  S.  G.  Fkench, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

You  have  now  my  official  report  of  the  battle  of  Allatoona  as 
it  wa.s  w  ritten  soon  after  the  event,  and  I  will  say  here  that,  had 
I  known  it  would  have  been  so  incorrectly  reported  by  Gen. 
Corse,  it  would  have  embraced  much  matter  of  detail  elucidating 
what  occurred.  I  shall  now  proceed  to  copy  some  part  of  Gen. 
Corse's  report,  after  which  its  errors  will  be  pointed  out  as  sub- 
stantiated by  facts  not  then  known,  and  some  that  were  not  re- 
garded. So,  with  my  report,  unintentional  errors  have  been 
made  known,  as  shown  by  subsequent  information. 

Gen.  Corse's  Report. 
I  directed  Col.  Rowett  to  hold  the  spur  on  which  the  Thirty- 
Ninth  Iowa  and  the  Seventh  Illinois  were  formed.  .  and  taking 
two  companies  of  the  Ninety-Third  Illinois  down  a  spur  parallel  with  the 
railroad  and  along  the  bank  of  the  cut,  so  disposetl  them  as  to  hold  the 
north  side  as  long  as  possible.  Three  companies  of  the  Ninety-Third, 
which  had  been  driven  from  the  west  end  of  the  ridge,  were  distributed 
in  the  ditch  south  of  the  I'edoubt.  with  instructions  to  keep  the  town  well 
covered  b}'  their  fire,  and  to  watch  the  depot  where  the  rations  were  stored. 
The  remaining  battalion  of  the  Ninety-Third,  under  Maj.  Fisher,  lay  be- 
tween the  redouljt  and  Rowetfs  line,  ready  to  recnforce  wherever  most 
needed. 

I  had  barely  issued  the  orders  when  the  storm  broke  in  all  its  fury  on 
the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa  and  the  Seventh  Illinois.  Young's  Brigade  of  Tex- 
ans  had  gainetl  tlie  west  end  of  the  ridge,  and  moved  with  great  impetuos- 


FjXthacts  FiiOM  Gen.  Couse's  Bei'oht.  239 

ity  along  its  crest  till  they  struck  Kowetts  command,  when  they  received 
a  severe  check,  hut,  undaunted,  came  again  and  again.  Kowett,  reeii- 
forced  by  the  gallant  Kedlield.  i-ncouraged  me  to  hope  that  we  were  safe 
here,  when  1  observed  Geu.  Searss  Brigade  moving  from  the  north,  its 
left  extending  across  the  railroad  (opposite  Tourtellotte).  I  rushed  to  the 
two  companies  of  the  Ninety-Third  Illinois,  which  were  on  the  brink  of 
the  crest  running  north  from  tlie  redoubt,  they  having  been  reenforced  by 
the  retreating  pickets,  and  urged  them  to  hold  on  to  the  spur;  but  it  was 
of  no  avail:  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  swept  us  back  like  so  much  chafl", 
and  struck  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa  in  tlank,  threatening  to  ingulf  our  little 
band  without  further  ado.  Fortunately  lor  us,  Col.  Tourtellotte's  lire  caught 
Sears  in  Hank,  and  broke  him  so  badly  as  to  enable  me  to.  get  a  staif  olti- 
cer  over  the  cut  with  orders  to  bring  the  Fiftieth  Illinois  over  to  reenfoi'ce 
Row^ett,  who  had  lost  very  heavily.  However,  before  the  regiment  sent 
for  could  arrive.  Sears  and  Young  both  rallied,  and  made  their  assaults  in 
front  and  on  the  flank  with  so  much  vigor  and  in  such  force  as  to  break 
Rowett's  line,  and  had  not  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa  fought  with  the  desper- 
ation it  did,  I  never  should  have  Ijeen  able  to  get  a  man  back  inside  the  re- 
doubt; as  it  was,  their  hand-to-hand  conflict  broke  the  enemy  to  that  ex- 
tent that  he  must  stop  and  re-form  before  undertaking  the  assault  on  the 
fort.  Under  cover  of  the  blows  they  gave  the  enemj'  the  Seventh  and 
Ninety-Third  Illinois,  and  what  remained  of  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa,  fell 
back  into  the  fort. 

The  fighting  up  to  this  time,  about  11  a.m.,  was  of  the  most  extraordi- 
nary character.  Attacked  from  the  north,  from  the  west,  and  from  the 
south,  these  three  regiments  (the  Thirty-Ninth  low^a  and  the  Seventh  and 
Ninety  Third  Illinois)  held  Young's  and  a  portion  of  Sears's  and  Cock- 
rell's  Brigades  at  baj^  for  nearly  two  hours  and  a  half.  The  gallant  Col. 
Redtield,  of  the  Thirtj'-Ninth  Iowa,  fell  shot  in  four  places,  and  the  ex- 
traordinary valor  of  the  men  and  officers  of  this  regiment  and  the  Seventh 
Illinois  saved  to  us  AUatoona. 

So  completely  disorganized  were  the  enemy  that  no  regular  assault  could 
be  made  on  the  fort  till  I  had  the  trenches  all  filled  and  the  parapets  lined 
with  men.  The  Twelfth  and  Fiftieth  Illinois,  arriving  from  the  east  hill. 
enabled  us  to  occupy  every  foot  of  trench,  and  keep  up  a  line  of  fii-e  that, 
as  long  as  our  ammunition  lasted,  would  render  our  little  fort  impregna- 
ble. The  broken  pieces  of  the  enemy  enabled  them  to  till  every  hollow, 
and  take  every  advantage  of  the  rough  ground  surrounding  the  fort,  till- 
ing every  hole  and  trench,  seeking  shelter  behind  every  stump  and  log  that 
lay  within  musket  range  of  the  fort.  We  received  their  fire  from  the 
north,  south,  and  west  of  the  redoubt,  completely  enfilading  our  ditches 
and  rendering  it  almost  impracticable  for  a  man  to  expose  his  person 
above  the  parai)et.  An  effort  was  made  to  carry  our  works  bj"^  assault; 
but  the  batterj'  (Twelfth  Missouri)  was  so  ably  manned,  and  so  gallantly 
fought,  as  to  render  it  impossible  for  a  column  to  live  within  a  hundretl 
yards  of  the  work.  Officers  labored  constantly'  to  stimulate  the  men  to 
ex))Ose  themselves  above  th(!  parapet,  and  nobly  set  them  the  example. 

The  enemy  k('})t  a  constant  and  intens«!  tire,  gradually  closing  around 


240  Two  Wars. 

us.  ;uul  rapidly  filling!;  onr  little  fort  with  the  dead  and  dyinsr.  About  1 
wsi.  I  was  wounded  by  a  ritle  ball  that  rendered  me  insensible  for  some 
thirty  or  forty  minutes,  but  managed  to  rally  on  hearing  some  persons 
cry  "Cease  tiring!"  whieh  eonveyed  to  me  the  impression  that  they  were 
trying  to  surrender  the  fort. 

Again  I  urged  my  staff,  the  few  offieers  unhurt,  and  the  men  around  me 
to  renewed  exertions,  assuriug  them  that  Sherman  would  soon  be  here  tvith 
reinforcements.  The  gallant  fellows  struggled  to  keep  their  heads  above 
the  ditch  and  parapets  in  the  faee  of  the  murderous  lire  of  the  enemy  now 
concentrated  upon  us.  The  artillery  was  silent,  and  a  brave  fellow,  whose 
name  I  regret  having  forgotten,  volunteered  to  cross  the  railway  cut, 
which  was  under  tire  of  the  enemy,  and  go  to  t\\Q  fort  on  the  east  hill  to 
procure  ammunition.  Having  executed  his  mission  successfully,  he  re- 
turned in  a  short  time  with  an  arm  load  of  canister  and  case  shot.  About 
2:30  I'.M.  the  enemy  were  observed  massing  a  force  behind  a  small  house 
and  the  ridge  on  which  the  house  was  located,  distant  northwest  from  the 
fort  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  The  dead  and  wounded  were 
moved  aside  so  as  to  enable  us  to  move  a  piece  of  artillery  to  an  eml)rasure 
commanding  the  house  and  ridge.  A  few  shots  from  the  gun  threw  the 
enemy's  column  into  great  confusion,  which,  being  observed  by  our  men, 
causetl  them  to  inish  to  the  parai)et  and  open  such  a  fire  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  the  enemj^  to  rally.  From  this  time  until  near  4  p.m.  we  had  the 
advantage  of  the  enemy,  and  maintained  it  with  such  success  that  thejf 
were  driven  from  every  position,  and  finally  Hed  in  great  confusion,  leav- 
ing their  dead  and  wounded,  and  our  little  garrison  in  possession  of  the 
field.     [See  War  Records.] 

The  above  extracts  /Vo///  Gen.  Corses  report  are  taken  from 
an  address  made  by  Col.  William  Ludlow,  United  States  army, 
to  the  ]Miehioran  Commandery,  at  Detroit,  April  2,  1S!)1,  and  I 
desire  it  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  he  is  a  o-radnate  of  the  Mili- 
tary Academy  and  was  with  Clen.  Corse  at  Allatoona  during  the 
battle,  for  I  shall  have  cause  to  refer  to  his  address  after  a  while. 

There  have  been  so  many  erroneous  accounts  given  to  the  pub- 
lic of  this  battle,  imjjugningof  motives,  r/z/e-s-s'/z^f/ at  the  controll- 
ing objects  that  intiuence  action,  falsifying  of  numbers,  glorify- 
ing dispatches,  and  complimentary  orders,  that  won  the  admira- 
tion even  of  a  Confederate  lieutenant  general,  that  I  purpose, 
as  well  as  I  am  aljle,  to  give  an  impartial  account  of  it. 

To  do  justice  to  the  troops  engaged  on  either  side  in  the  con- 
flict, it  will  be  necessary:  1.  To  have  a  knowledge  of  the  ground 
or  topography  of  the  field  of  action.  2.  The  strength  of  the 
fortifications,  and  the  time  and  lal)or  bestowed  on  them.  3.  The 
strength  of  the  respective  forces.  4.  'I'lic  ratio  of  ineijuality  be- 
tween men  ill  strong  fortilicMtioiis  and  men  attackiiia"  from  with- 


Allatoona  a  ''Natural  Fortress."  241 

out,  iniMic'cliatc'Iy  on  arrival.  Ti.  The  inspiring  inducement  to  the 
tjarrison  /lof  io  xiinu  iKhr  when  relief  is  at  hand;  and  the  advan- 
tage to  be  gained,  if  sueeessf  ul,  eonipared  with  the  risk  of  remain- 
ing after  ascertaining  that  tlie  enemy  was  converging  on  the 
place  from  every  point. 

1.  Tf  an  examination  of  this  toi)ographieal  ma])  l)e  made  in 
connection  with  the  photographic  views  of  the  railroad  cut,  the 
star  fort,  and  the  view  from  the  sally  port,  it  will  give  you  an 
idea  of  the  rough  mountain  spurs  over  which  we  had  to  pass. 

2.  These  forts  and  redoubts  were  l)uilt  by  a  distinguished  en- 
gineer in  the  United  States  army,  and,  with  their  mutual  defen- 
sive relation  the  one  to  the  other,  form  a  remarkably  strong  line  of 
fortifications  on  every  side.  Sherman  wrote  to  Gen.  Blair,  June 
1,  1S()4,  "Order  the  brigade  left  at  Allatoona  to  be  provided 
with  tools,  and  to  intrench  l)oth  ends  of  the  pass  very  strong," 
and  frequently  he  speaks  of  Allatoona  as  a  "natural  fortress," 
etc. 

Beginning  at  the  east,  we  Imve  a  fort  about  fifty  feet  in  diam- 
eter in  the  interior  (marked  "T"  on  the  map),  near  three  hun- 
dred yards  east  of  the  railroad,  with  a  deep  ditch  around  it. 
Walls  twelve  feet  thick,  and  having  embrasures  for  artillery,  for 
which  it  was  mainly  designed.  This  fort  was  connected  with  a 
line  of  heavy  intrenchments  extending  to  the  railroad  cut,  and 
along  the  cut  to  defend  the  star  fort  "C"  by  a  flank  fire,  and 
also  the  redoubt  "K."  Again,  there  are  intrenchments  on  the 
east  side  of  the  railroad  near  the  depot  that  sweep  with  a  flank 
fire  the  south  front  of  the  star  fort  ""C,*'  the  Cartersville  road, 
depot,  etc.  There  was  also  protection  given  by  inundating  the 
country  north  l)y  a  dam  across  the  creek. 

Crossing  the  railroad  to  the  west,  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge 
and  on  the  verge  of  the  deep  cut,  you  will  find  the  star  fort  "C" 
surrounded  by  a  wide  ditch  six  feet  deep.  The  interior  is  sev- 
enty-five feet  in  diameter,  and  has  eight  embrasures  for  large 
guns.  It  dominates,  from  its  elevation,  all  the  surrounding 
country,  and  connnands  the  approach  in  every  direction,  com- 
pletely sweeping  the  ridge  both  east  and  west,  protecting  there- 
doubt  "R"  from  any  force  attacking  it.  The  Cartersville  road 
passes  under  the  muzzle  of  its  guns,  and  then  rims  west  on  the 
ridge,  through  redoubt  ""li.'" 

The  two  forts,  "-T"  and  "C,"  J^'c  interior  isolated  imrlsfor 
16 


^3SUm7 


Strength  of  the  //espective  Foiwes.  243 

artilJi'i'iiy  and  the  tii'e  from  each  sNve))l  all  the  other  works  l)oth 
inside  and  externally.  Both  were  surrounded  hy  ditches  six  feet 
deej).  niakin??  their  i)arapets  about  tireire  feet  high.  Conse- 
quently they  eould  not  l)e  taken  by  assault  without  acaluHj  lad- 
devK^  or  otherwise,  usual  in  sieg^es,  unless  by  the  sally  port.  In 
fact  these  two  inside  forts  could  be  used  as  citadels,  or  a  place  of 
refiKje  when  the  long  exterior  lines  of  defense  were  captured. 
And  this  was  the  case  with  fort  "C"  in  the  battle  of  Allatoona. 
The  whole  formed  a  mountain  fortress. 

The  Federals  call  the  intrenchments  at  "R''  "rifle  pits,"  to 
which  they  bear  a])()ut  as  much  relation,  in  regard  to  strength, 
as  a  battleship  does  to  a  dispatch  boat.  Commencing  al)out  one 
hundred  and  twenty-tive  yards  west  of  the  fort  "C,""  and  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Cartersville  road,  are  two  lines  of  intrenchments 
running  nearly  parallel  with  that  road.  These  tAvo,  or  doulile, 
lines  of  defense  converge  and  meet  below  the  crest  of  the  ridge, 
then,  turning  north,  cross  the  road  (with  angles  for  flanking  tire) 
and  continue  north  down  the  slope.  From  this  north  line  an 
intrenchment  runs  due  east  t(^ward  the  main  fort.  The  parapet 
is  revetted  with  timl)er,  and  the  interior  ditch  is  very  wide.  On 
the  para])et  are  large  chestnut  Jwad  hx/s  to  protect  the  persons 
of  the  soldiers.  In  front  were  immense  entanglements  of  abatis, 
stockades,  stakes,  etc.,  to  check  any  assault  on  the  works.  So 
well  was  the  work  done  that  in  1890,  when  I  was  there,  time  had 
not  defaced  them,  and  the  revetments  and  "head  logs"  are  to- 
day as  round  as  when  placed  there.  I  am  the  more  particular 
about  this  redoubt  because  here  happened,  perhaps,  the  bloodiest 
tragedy  in  the  history  of  the  war. 

3.    The  strengtli  of  tlir  respective  fovci-^. 

Col.  Tourtellotte's  command  was  composed  of  the  Ninety- 
Third  Illinois,  officers  and  men,  29-t;  the  Eighteenth  Wisconsin, 
guns,  150;  Fourth  Minnesota,  guns,  450;  the  Fifth  Ohio  Caval- 
ry, men,  10;  giving  an  apparent  total  of  910.  To  this  must  yet 
be  added  the  force  for  the  six  pieces  of  artillery,  not  less  than 
60.  If  we  add  the  company  ofiicers  not  enumerated,  it  will  l)e 
found  that  Tourtellotte  had  a1)out  1,000  officers  and  men.  The 
above  numbers  are  official. 

Corse's  official  statement  is  that  he  brought  with  him  to  Alla- 
toona the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa,  2.S0  men;  Seventh  Illinois,  2(37 
men;  Fiftieth  Illinois,  2i)T  men;  Fifty-Seventh  Illinois,  (51  men; 


244  Tiro  Waes. 

Twelfth  Illinois.  1.').')  humi:  or  1. ••;>() //^,//.  To  this  must  ))e added 
(say)  lo7  resfimental  and  coniiianv  olliccrs.  niakinir  the  force 
tliat  he  hrouofht  with  him  l.l;)7  otHcersand  men.  So  with  Tour- 
tellotle's  troo})s  the  ao-g-reofate  is  ;^.i;*)7  instead  of  l.it44  as  re- 
ported by  him.  which  excluded  himself  and  ofHcers. 

As  reofards  the  stren<rth  of  my  division  at  Allatoona.  the  War 
Records  show  that  on  September  i!0.  at  inspection.  I  had  pres- 
ent for  duty  831  officers  and  2,1)4.")  men.     Total.  ii.^TB. 

Cockrell's  Brio^ade  was  composed  of  eiffht  small  rcirinients  con- 
solidated into  four,  Ector's  Briirade  of  six  reofiments,  and  Sears's 
Briofade  of  six  reofiments.  and  two  l)atteries,  8  jruns. 

To  this  force  add  one  four-a"nn  battery  sent  with  me,  and  de- 
duct one  ofun  and  one  re<rinient  left  at  Allatoona  creek  bridge, 
and  my  entire  force  present  was  .j\!.07. 

And  thus  ofhcially  we  have  Federals,  2.182;  Confederates,  as 
above. 

4.   Eq>iol)z<ition  of  f()V(u<i<. 

The  ratio  of  inequality  between  a  force  irlthln  ordindrij  in- 
trenchinents  in  line  of  battle  and  the  attacking  force  iritJiout  is 
well  known. 

Gen.  Cox  in  his  "Atlanta  Campaign,"  page  129,  says:  "One 
man  in  the  trench  is  eipial  to  five  in  front."  Gen.  O.  O.  How- 
ard, in  reference  to  the  battle  of  Kennesaw  ]\Ioimtain.  says: 
"My  experience  is  that  a  line  of  works  thoroughly  constructed, 
with  the  front  well  covered  with  abatis  and  other  entanglements, 
well  manned  with  infanti'V,  whether  with  our  own  or  that  of  the 
enen\\\  (■(//utr/f  /j,car/-ied  /^>/  (/n'rcf  if.ssi/ti/f.''  Gen.  R.  S.  Gran- 
ger informs  Gen.  G.  11.  Thomasthat  the  fort  at  Athens,  manned 
})y  "(10  men.  can  hold  out  an  enemy  lo.ooo  strong.  (War  Rec- 
ords, V.  8it,  Bart  8,  page  51!).)  Vicksl)urg,  Jackson,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Kennesaw.  Betersburg,  Atlanta.  Knoxville,  and  other  lines 
repelled  the  assaults.  Now  Allatoona  was.  without  doul>t.  thrice 
as  strong  as  these,  and  the  attacking  force  was  oidy  o/h  <iiul  n 
Jnilffii  (UK'  1 11X1(1, ■.  Then.  too.  we  should  consider  that  the  Avorks 
on  the  ///V/.s-  were  almost  inaccessible. 

Battery  ^^'agner,  a  sand  foii  on  a  level  plain  on  Morris  Island, 
Charleston,  S.  C,  was  garrisoned  by  only  74<»  men.  who  success- 
fully defended  \tp'fti/-ei<j/it  <f(n/s  a  nil  n'njJifs  against  the  assaults 
and  continuous  tii-e  of  1  L.-tOO  men.  with  forty-seven  cannon,  aid- 
ed by  ships     the  Ironsides,  eight  monitors,  and  five  gunboats. 


Insj'irl\g  Teij':<:i!ams.  245 

And  Fort  Sumter  never  whs  taken  l»y  ussiiult.  It  was  (juietly 
al)andoned  February  18,  1865. 

On  Sunday,  A])ril  1(>,  1S()5,  seven  days  after  the  surrender  at 
Appomattox,  a  small  red()ul)t  or  fort,  of  weak  eonstruction,  gar- 
risoned by  an  unoro^anized  force  hastily  collected,  at  West  Point, 
Ga.,  near  Atlanta,  consistino;  of  (U  men  under  Gen.  Tyler  and 
Col,  J.  H.  Fannan,  held  the  fort  all  day  aarainst  8,750  men  of 
Gen,  J,  M.  Wilson's  conunand,  and  surrendered  only  for  want 
of  ammunition  and  loss  of  men.  Col.  O,  H,  LaGrange,  of  Wis- 
consin, connnandcd  the  F\Mlerals.     Ratio,  1  to  02, 

5,  The  nixpifiiKj  hojx'x  given  the  garrison  will  be  discovered 
in  the  following  dispatches  informing  them  aid  was  at  hand,  beg- 
ging them  to  hold  out  until  reenforcements  arrived.  In  these 
dispatches  bear  in  mind  that  Gen,  Stanley  w^as  in  temporary 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  Gen,  Elliott  was 
the  commander  in  chief  of  Sherman's  cavalry,  I  give  onl}^  a 
few  of  the  many  dispatches  in  the  War  Records, 

No.  1.    Volume  39,  Part  3,  Page  53. 

SHEBMAX  TO  COMMANDIXG  OFFICER  AT  ALLATOONA. 

October  3.  18(34. 
Hood  might  slip  up  to  Ac  worth  and  Allatoona.     I  want  the  utmost 
vigilance  there.     If  he  goes  to  Allatoona,  1  want  him  only  delayed  long 
enough  for  me  to  reach  his  rear.      ...      If  he  moves  up  to  Allatoona,  I 
will  surely  come  in  force. 

No.  2.     Volume  39,  Page  65. 

SHERMAX  TO  STAXLEY. 

In  the  Field,  October  4,  1864. 
I  heard  from  Gen.  P^lliott  to-night.     He  was  on  the  Sandtown  and  Alla- 
toona road.     ...     I  will  be  up  to-day  and  move  to  Kennesaw. 

No.  3.     Volume  39,  Page  66. 

SHERMAX  TO  STAXLEY. 

October  4.  1864.     Received  10  a.m. 
Yes,  move  to  Little  Kennesaw  and  west  of  it.     Tell  Elliott  in  my  name 
to  inter])ose  with  his  whole  force  between  Dallas  and  Allatoona,  and  strike 
for  any  force  in  the  direction  of  Acworth. 

No.  4.     Volume  39,  Page  71. 

SIT ER MAX  TO  ELLIOTT. 

Octo))er  4,  1864.  11  r.M. 
Don't  risk  the  safety  of  your  cavalry  until  I  get  up  with  my  whole 
force,  but  make  bold  reconnoissances  in  connection  with  Gen.  Stanley. 
My  chief  object  is  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  making  an  attack  on  Alla- 
toona to-morrow. 


246  Tuo  Wahs. 

No.  5.     VoLiME  39,  Page  71. 

SHEItMAX  TO  COMMAyniyO  OFFICERS  AT ALLATOO.\A,  KfyOSTON,  ASD  ROME. 

October  4,  1864. 
The  enemy  is  iiioviiii!;  on  All;itoona.  thence  to  Konie. 

No.  6.    Volume  39,  Page  52. 

SHERMA.X  TO  OEX.   VAyDEVKR. 

October  3,  1864. 
Sherman  wants  the  force  at  Big  .shanty  cleaned  out,  and  wants  it  done 
to-night  if  possible. 

No.  7.    Volume  39,  Page  75. 

CORSE  TO  OEy.  J.  E.  SMITH. 

Rome,  October  4,  1864. 
I  will  move  my  entire  command  to  Cartersville  and  nnite  with  Gen. 
llanm  in  attacking  the  enemy  from  Allatoona  direct. 

No.  8.    Volume  39,  Page  75. 

CORSE  TO  RAUM. 

Rome.  Octoljer  4,  1864. 

I  am  expecting  a  train  every  moment:  as  .soon  as  I  can  get  read}'  I  Avill 
move  3,000  to  4,000  men. 

No.  9.     Volume  39,  Page  77. 

VAyDEVER  TO  SHERMAy. 

Near  Kennesaw,  October  4,  1864. 
Elliott  is  between  Big  Shanty  and  Kennesaw  on  our  left.     I  am  skir- 
mishing with  the  enemy  now. 

No.  10.     Volume  39.  Pacje  77. 

VAynEVER  TO  SHKRMAy. 

Near  Kennesaw,  October  4,  1864. 
(ien.  Elliott  has  all  his  force  near  the  west  base  of  the  mountain.    Gens. 
Kilpatrick  and  Garrard  are  both  with  him,  so  couriers  report. 

N<x  11.     VoLU.ME  39.  Page  78. 

VAyDEVER  TO  COMMAyDiyd  OFFICER  AT  ALLATOOyA. 

Kennesaw  Mountain,  ()ctol)er4,  1804.  2  ws\. 
Sherman  is  moving  in  force.     Hold  out. 

No.  12.     Volume  39,  Page  78. 

VAyDEVER  TO  (OMMAyDING  OFFICER  AT  ALLATOOyA. 

Near  Kennesaw  Mountain,  October  4,  6:39  v.m. 
Gen.  Sherman  says  liokl  fast,  we  are  coming. 

No.  13.     Volume  39,  Page  88. 

SIOy'AL  OFFICER  AT  ALLATOOyA   TO  SIGNAL  OFFICER  AT  KENyESAW. 

Allatoona,  October  5,  1864. 
Geu.  Corse  is  hei'e  with  one  brigade.     Where  is  Sherman? 


lxSi'Ih'L\G    TuLECliAMS.  247 

No.  14.     VoLi  mi:  :}'.».  P.\(;i;  sj). 

SNELWAX  TO  STAXLEY. 

Kennesaw  Mountain,  Octol)er  5,  1864,  11:15  a.m. 

No  news  by  signal  from  Allatoona.     Heavy  tiring,  indicating  an  assault 

and  repulse.     Occasional  shots  now.  but  too  smoky  to  see  signals.     Can 

see  the  field  about  Lost  Mountain.     No  large  force  of  Rebels  there.     Can 

see  Kilpatriok's  cavalry  massed  in  a  big  field  this  side,  hut  no  skirmishing. 

No.  15.     Volume  39,  Pa<;e  89. 

SHEiniAN  TO  STAXLEV. 

Kennesaw  Mountain,  October  5,  1864.     Received  2:30  p.m. 
Tlu-ow  forward  ])ickets  on  the  Sandtown  road.     Take  sti'ong  position 
and  hold  it. 

No.  16.     Volume  39,  Page  90. 

STAXLEV  TO  SHERMAX. 

Pine  Top,  Octolier  5,  1864.  3: 10  p.m. 
I  am  on  Pine  Top.      ...      I  saw  our  cavalry  al)out  two  miles  in  ad- 
vance of  Kemps  Mills. 

No.  17.     Volume  39,  Page  90. 

SHERMAX  TO  STAXLEV. 

In  the  Field,  October  5,  1864. 
I  want  to  control  the  Samltown  road  back  to  Allatoona.* 
No.  IS.     Volume  39,  Page  91. 

SHERMAX  TO  ELLIOTT. 

In  the  Field,  October  5,  1864. 
Dispatch  Garrard  to-night  to  Allatoona,  making  a  circuit  to  the  right, 
and  to  learn  if  possilile  the  state  of  affairs  there.     .     .     .     The  day  was  so 
hazy  that  we  could  get  hut  few  messages.     Corse  is  there  with  his  division. 

No.  19.     Volume  39,  Page  92. 

SJIER.MAX  TO  ELLIOTT. 

In  the  Field,  October  5,  1864. 
I  have  heard  from  Allatoona.     All  right.     Corse  is  there,  but  wounded. 
You  need  not  send  Garrard's  cavalry,  but  send  a  squadron. 

No.  20.     Volume  39,  PA(iE  92. 

S///-.7M/.I.V  TO  ELLIOTT. 

In  the  Field,  October  5,  1864. 
I  have  been  up  on  Kennesaw  all  day  watching  the  attack.     Since  it 
ceased  I  have  a  signal,  O.  K.     Corse  wounded.        ...        I  want  to 
establish  communication  with  Allatoona. 

No.  21.     Volume  39,  Page  96. 

TOr-RTELLOTTE  TO  SHERMAX. 

Allatoona.  (Ja.,  October  5.  1864. 
Gen.  Sherman:  Corse  is  here. 

*This  is  the  road  to  New  Hope  Church  over  which  we  marched. 


248  Tiro  Wars. 

No.  22.     VoiAME  39.  Paue  %. 

TO  CO.V.V.l.V/)/.A7;  OFFICER,  ALLATOOXA. 

Kennesaw  Mountain.  UcIoIkt  5.  1«G4. 
Near  yoii. 

No.  23.     VoLiME  39.  Page  96. 

SIGXAL  DISPATCHES  FROM  AX  I)  TO  KEXXESAW  .VOIXTAIX. 

At  8  A.M.  I  calleil  AUatoona  for  two  hour.s  aiul  a  half.  I  asked  for  news, 
and  at  10:30  a.m.  received  tlie  followinir  mcssasre:  "We  hold  out.  Gen. 
Corse  here."  Adams,  Signal  Officer. 

At  4  P.>i.  I  again  called  AUatoona,  and  at  4:  lo  <rot  the  follo\vin,<r:  "We 
still  hold  out.     Gen.  Corse  is  wounded." 

No.  24.     VoLi  ME  S9.  Page  97. 

Kennesaw  Mot  ntain.  October  5.  1SG4. 
Tell  AUatoona  to  hold  on.     Gen.  Sherman  says  he  is  workinir  liai-d  for 
jou. 

No.  2o.     Von  ME  89,  Pa(;e  97. 

a  EX.  a.  li.  RACM  TO  OEX.  ./.  E.  SMITH. 

Cakteksville,  Ga.,  October  5.  1804. 
We  have  won  a  great  victor}'  at  AUatoona  to-(hiy.     I  (nn  just  from  there. 
Gen.  Corse  is  slightly  wounded  in  the  cheek:  Col.  Tourtellotte  slightly  in 
the  left  thigh. 

No.  26.     VoLiME  39.  Pa(;es  111,  112. 

IJFJ^T,   ir.  //.  SHERFY,  CHIEF  SIGXAL  OFFKKH,   KENNESAW,  REfORTS. 

October  4.  1864. 

I  called  AUatoona  and  sent  the  messages  received  last  night.  I  saw  the 
enemy  liard  at  work  destroying  the  railroad  on  both  sides  of  Big  Shanty- 

.  .  At  ")  I'.M.  the  enemy  began  to  move  off  on  the  Ac  worth  road,  and 
at  'J  P.M.  our  annij  moved  into  cam])  id  tin-  foot  of  Little  Kennesitu-  Moun- 
tain. 

Octoljer  5. 

To-day  the  battle  of  AUatoona  was  fought.  1  i-ould  see  the  smoke  of 
guns  and  shells.  Gen.  Sherman  was  with  me  all  ilay  sending  and  receiv- 
ing messages. 

Havings  now  orivcii  you  sonic  knowk'diro  of  the  ground,  the 
strenocth  of  the  fortifications,  the  nuinl)ers  eno^aofed  on  either 
side,  the  ratio  of  ine(|uality  between  troops  inside  and  those  out- 
side ordinary  works,  and  the  many  inspirino^  hopes  sent  to  the 
garrison  to  hold  out.  you  can  better  comprehend 

TlIK    HAriLK. 

The  day  dawned  l)eautiful  and  l)right,  and  as  the  sun  rose 
liigher  and  highei-  in  the  mellow  autumnal  sky.  and  lit  up  the 


Cock R ELL  AiTArhs.  249 

f()ic'st-(l:i(l  lK'i<2:lit8,  it  turned  into  a  (|uict  Indian  snnnncr  day  of 
hazy,  drowsy  appearance  indueivc  of  rest.  Ail  nature  seemed  at 
variance  with  the  active  preparations  l>eini:-  made  for  the  ini- 
pendinof  contlict  of  arms. 

Gen.  Corse  had  placed  in  redouht  ''K""  tlie  Seventh  Illinois, 
the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa,  and  the  Ninety-Third  Illinois.  He  had 
some  com})anies  in  advance  of  "  li,'"'  and  the  remainder  in  reserve 
in  the  reai'  of  '*  R."  These  three  regiments  for  the  defense  of 
this  redouht  (called  rifle  ])its)  numltered  nine  hundred  and  four 
ollicers  and  men. 

Tourtellotte,  in  fort  '"T"'  and  the  intrenchments,  had  for  the 
defense  east  of  the  j-ailroad  the  Fourth  Minnesota,  Eio:hteenth 
Wisconsin,  and  the  Fiftieth  and  Twelfth  Illinois  Regiments. 
8<)on.  however,  the  Fiftieth  and  Twelfth  Illinois  were  ordered 
over  by  Corse  to  the  west  side  of  the  railroad. 

I  made  the  following  disjjosition  of  my  division  of  infantry 
present  on  the  ridge.  Sears's  Brigade  w^as  ordered  to  the  north 
side  of  the  ridge  and  ^/sf  of  the  railroad.  Cockrell's  Brigade 
and  the  four  regiments  of  Ector's  Brigade  were  on  the  ridge 
w^est  of  the  enemy's  works. 

Al)out  i>  A.M.  the  artillery  ceased  tiring,  and,  under  a  flag  of 
truce,  1  sent  a  summons  to  the  commander  of  the  garrison  to 
surrender,  supposing  the  forces  were  small  or  to  be  the  same  as 
rei)orted  to  me  wdien  I  w'as  in  Acworth.  The  summons  was 
carried  by  Maj.  D.  W.  Sanders,  Adjutant  General.  He  waited 
about  twenty  minutes  for  a  reply;  receiving  none,  he  returned. 
I  ha<l  no  idea  that  the  garrison  had  l)een  reenforced  by  the  ar- 
rival of  Gen.  Corse  with  one  of  his  brigades. 

It  w^as  now  near  10  a.m.  when,  impatient  at  the  delay  of  Sears 
not  getting  in  position,  I  ordered  Cockrell  to  make  the  attack  on 
the  redoubt  "'R"  with  his  brigade  of  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
strong,  supported  by  four  regiments  of  Ector's  Texas  Brigade 
of  about  four  hundred  men.  The  ridge  was  so  narrow  that  when 
deployed  the  wings  were  in  the  woods  on  the  steep  sides  of  a 
rocky  ridge.  As  Cockrell  neared  the  line  he  was  subjected  to 
the  tire  of  the  artillery  from  the  two  forts  ''T"  and  ''C,''  and 
the  musketry  from  *'  R,"  and  the  troops  in  the  intrenchments  on 
the  east  side  of  the  railroad,  near  the  deep  cut,  that  swept  his 
approach  on  e^'ery  side.  Arriving  near  the  redoubt,  the  troops 
were  stopped  by  the  formidable  abatis  and  other  entanglements. 


-so 


-   2  S 


—      --  IB 


T'he  Redoubt  Carried.  251 

There  for  an  hour,  untler  this  search in<i:  fire,  they  worked  to 
make  a  way  through  the  abatis.  When  i)assages  had  been  made 
they  rushed  to  the  assault,  and,  after  a  terrible  hand-to-hand 
conliict,  the  redoubt  was  carried,  and  the  survivors  tied  to 
fort  "C,"  followed  by  our  men,  and  in  a  few  minutes  every  Un- 
ion soldier  west  of  the  railroad,  including  the  Fiftieth  and 
Twelfth  Illinois,  sought  refuge  in  fort  "C"  and  the  ditch  sur- 
rounding it,  crowding  them  beyond  measure. 

Thus  did  1,350  Confederates  carry  the  redoubt  defended  by 
!>04:  brave  Union  veterans,  although  subjected  all  this  time  to  the 
tire  of  forts  "T"  and  "C,"  and  other  tlanking  works.  But 
1  will  let  Gen.  Corse  tell  the  story  himself,  as  found  on  pages 
761-766,  Volume  31),  War  Records,  only  I  will  correct  the  errors 
in  names  and  tigures  in  some  instances: 

I  had  hardly  issueil  these  incipient  orders  when  the  storm  broke  in  all 
its  fury  on  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa  and  Seventh  Illinois.  Young's  [Cock- 
relTs]  Brigade  of  Texans,  1,900  strong,  had  gained  the  west  end  of  the 
ridge,  and  moved  Avith  great  imijetuosity  along  its  crest  till  they  struck 
Rowett's  command,  whei'e  they  received  a  severe  check,  but,  undaunted, 
they  came  again  and  again.  Rowett,  reenforced  by  the  Ninety-Third  Illinois, 
and  aided  by  the  gallant  Redfield,  encouraged  me  to  hope  we  were  all  safe 
hei'e,  when  I  observed  a  brigade  of  the  enemy  under  command  of  Gen. 
Sears  moving  from  the  north,  its  left  extending  across  the  railroad.  I 
rushed  to  the  two  companies  of  the  Ninety-Third  Illinois,  which  were  on 
the  brink  of  the  cut  running  north  from  the  redoubt  [fort  "C  "]  and  par- 
allel with  the  railroad,  they  having  been  reenforced  by  the  retreating 
pickets,  and  urged  them  to  hold  on  to  the  spur,  but  it  was  of  no  avail. 
The  enemy's  line  of  battle  swept  us  back  like  so  much  chatT,  and  struck 
the  Thirtj'-Ninth  Iowa  in  flank,  threatening  to  ingulf  our  little  band  with- 
out further  ado.  Fortunately  for  us,  Col.  Tourtellotte's  fire  caught  Sears 
in  the  flank  and  broke  him  so  badly  as  to  enable  me  to  get  a  staff  oiBcer 
over  the  cut  with  ordei's  to  bring  the  Fiftieth  Illinois  over  to  reenforce 
Rowett,  who  had  lost  very  heavily.  However,  before  the  regiment  sent 
for  could  arrive.  Sears  and  Young  [Cockrell  and  Young]  both  rallied  and 
made  their  assaults  in  front  and  on  the  flank  with  so  much  vigor  and  in  such 
force  as  to  break  Rowett's  line,  and  had  not  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa  fought 
with  the  desperation  it  did  I  never  would  have  been  able  to  have  brought 
a  man  back  into  the  redoubt  [fort  "C  "].  As  it  was,  their  hand-to-hand 
struggle  and  stubborn  stand  broke  the  enemy  to  that  extent  that  he  must 
stop  to  re-form  before  undertaking  the  assault  on  the  fort.  Under  cover  of 
the  blow  they  gave  the  enemy  the  Seventh  and  Ninety-'I'hird  Illinois  and 
what  remained  of  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa  fell  back  into  the  fort.  The 
flghting  up  to  this  time — about  11  a.m. — was  of  a  most  extraordinary  char- 
acter. Attacked  from  the  north,  from  the  west,  and  from  the  south,  these 
three  regiments,  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa,  Seventh  Illinois,  and  Ninety-Third 


•2r)2  Tu-o  Waks. 

Illinois  infaiilry.  ln-ld  Yuun>r'.s  iiiul  a  purlioii  of  Sears"s  ami  Cockrell's 
[shouUl  be  Cofkrell's  and  Youngs]  BrigaiU's  at  bay  for  nearly  two  hours 
and  a  half.  [We  were  delayed  about  an  hour,  and  that  by  the  entangle- 
ments that  i)reveuted  us  from  reaching  the  parapet:  besides,  we  were  uu 
der  tire  from  guns  everywhere.]  The  gallant  Col.  lledfield.  of  the  Thirty- 
Ninth  Iowa.  fell,  shot  in  four  places,  and  the  extraordinarj'  valor  of  the 
men  and  ofHcers  of  this  regiment  and  the  Seventh  Illinois  saved  to  us  Al- 
latoona. 

The  capture  of  the  redoiil^t  hv  Cockreli  and  Vouiiir  under  the 
iire  of  six  pieces  of  artillery,  two  iu  fort  "C  "  and  one  in  a  l)at- 
terj^  in  advance  of  the  fort,  three  in  fort  ''T."  and  musketry 
lire  from  every  place,  besides  the  9<)4  men  in  the  redoubt,  ends 
the  tirst  act  of  the  tracredy. 

It  is  proper  here  to  give  a  description  of  this  scene  ])y  (quot- 
ing from  an  address  made  by  Col.  William  Ludlow,  Corps  of 
Engineers,  United  States  Army,  who  was  with  Gen.  Corse  diu"- 
ing  the  battle,  to  the  Michigan  Commandery.  I^oyal  Legion,  at 
Detroit,  April  2,  1891.  In  referring  to  the  capture  of  redoubt 
'•R."  he  said: 

But  the  api)aHing  center  of  the  tragedy  was  the  pit  in  Avhich  lay  the  lie- 
roes  of  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa  and  the  Seventh  Illinois.  Such  a  sight  i)rob- 
ably  was  never  presented  to  the  eye  of  heaven.  There  is  no  language  to 
describe  it.  With  all  the  glad  reaction  of  feeling  after  the  prolonged  strain 
of  that  mortal  day,  and  the  exultant  surge  of  victory  that  swelled  our 
hearts,  it  was  difficult  to  stand  on  the  verge  of  tliat  open  grave  without  a 
rush  of  tears  to  the  eye  and  a  spasm  of  pity  clutching  at  the  throat.  The 
trench  was  crowded  with  the  dead,  blue  and  homespun,  "Yank"  and 
••Johnny,"  inextricably  mingled  in  the  last  ditch.  Our  heroes,  ordered 
to  hold  the  place  to  the  last,  with  sii])reme  tidelity.  had  died  at  their  posts. 
As  the  Rebel  line  ran  over  them  they  struck  up  with  their  bayonets  as  the 
foe  struck  down,  and,  rolling  together  in  the  embrace  of  death,  we  found 
them,  in  some  cases,  mutually  transfixed.  The  theme  cannot  be  dwelt 
upon. 

I  will  now  go  on  with  Corse's  rc})()rt.  and  let  him  tell  his  story 
of  the  battle  in  his  own  way. 

So  completelj'  disorganized  were  the  enemy  that  no  regular  assault 
could  be  made  on  the  fort  until  I  had  the  trenches  all  tilled  and  the  par- 
apets lined  with  men.  The  Twelfth  Illinois  and  the  Fiftieth  Illinois,  arriv- 
ing from  the  east  hill,  enabled  us  to  occujjv  every  foot  of  trench,  and  keep 
up  a  line  of  fire  that  as  long  as  our  ammunition  lasted  would  render  our 
little  fort  im])regnable.  The  broken  forc(;s  of  the  enemy  enal)led  them  to 
fill  every  hollow  and  take  every  advantage  of  the  rough  groinid  surround- 
ing the  fort,  tilling  every  hole  and  trench,  seeking  shelter  behind  every 


J^nioiiTiTL  Slaughter.  253 

stump  and  lo<;  tliat  lay  within  musket  range  of  the  fort.  We  received  tire 
from  the  north,  south,  and  west  face  of  the  fort,  completely  enfilading  our 
ditches,  and  rendering  it  almost  impracticable  for  a  man  to  expose  his  per- 
son above  the  parapet.  An  eflfort  was  made  to  carry  our  works  by  assault 
[This  is  an  error.  We  had  no  scaling  ladders,  besides  the  ditch  was  solid 
full  of  Corse's  men  who  found  shelter  there],  but  the  battery.  Twelfth 
Wisconsin,  was  so  ably  managed  and  so  gallantly  fought  as  tf)  render  it 
impossible  for  a  column  to  live  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  works.  Of- 
ficers labored  constantly  to  stimulate  the  men  to  exertion,  and  almost  all 
that  Avere  killed  or  wounded  in  the  fort  met  this  fate  while  trying  to  get 
the  men  to  expose  themselves  above  the  parapet,  and  no])ly  setting  them 
the  example. 

The  enemy  kept  up  a  constant  and  intense  tire,  gradually  closing  around 
us,  and  rapidly  filling  our  little  fort  with  the  dead  and  the  dying.  About 
1  P.M.  I  was  woitnded  l)y  a  ritie  ball,  which  rendered  me  insensible  for 
some  thirtj^  or  forty  minutes,  but  managed  to  rally  on  hearing  some  per- 
sons crJ^  ''Cease firing,"  whicli  conveyed  to  me  the  impression  that  they 
were  trying  to  surrender  tlie  fort.  Again  I  urged  m}^  staff,  the  few  ofh- 
cers  left  unhurt,  and  the  men  around  me  to  renewed  exertions,  assuring 
them  that  Shemnan  would  soon  be  here  with  reinforcements.  The  gallant 
fellows  struggled  hard  to  keep  their  heads  above  the  ditch  and  parapet  in 
the  face  of  tlie  murderous  fire  of  the  enemy  now  concentrated  upon  us. 

Here  Ave  have  the  astonishing  official  statement  that  his  men 
would  not  expose  themselves  enough  to  lire  over  the  parapet  or 
out  of  the  ditch,  and  that  most  of  the  officers  lost  their  lives  in 
"nobly  setting  them  the  example;"  and  this  is  also  established 
by  Col.  Ludlow  in  his  address,  where  he  says: 

Rowett's  order  to  "c.  use  firing  "  had,  of  course,  nothing  to  do  with  the 
CY\  of  "surrender."  It  is  true  tliat  there  were  men  in  the  fort  ready  to 
surrender  or  to  do  anj^thing  else  in  order  to  get  out  of  it  alive.  Happily 
these  w'ere  few,  and  most  of  them  lay  prone,  close  under  the  parapet, 
playing  dead,  with  the  combatants  and  wounded  standing  and  sitting  upon 
them.  If  I  mistake  not,  (Jorse  himself,  at  least  for  a  time,  ivas  holding  down 
one  of  these  living  coi'pses.  who  preferred  to  endure  all  the  pain  and  dis- 
comfort of  his  position  rather  than  get  up  and  face  the  deadly  music  that 
filled  the  air  with  leaden  notes.  ...  It  was  absolutely  necessary  to 
keep  room  for  the  lighting  force  along  tlie  parapet,  so  the  wounded  were 
drawn  back,  and  in  some  eases  shot  over  and  over  again.  The  dead  were 
disposed  of  in  the  same  way,  except  that  as  the  ground  became  covered 
with  them  they  were  let  lie  as  they  fell,  and  were  stooil  or  sat  upon  by  the 
lighters.     .     .     .     The  slaugliter  had  been  frightful. 

One  of  our  guns  was  tlisabled  from  the  jamming  of  a  shot,  and  we  were 
out  of  ammunition  for  the  other  two.  ...  I  recall  distinctly  the  fact 
that  a  regimental  tiagstalT  on  the  parapet,  which  had  been  several  times 
shot  aw^ay,  fell  again  at  a  critical  moment  toward  the  end  of  the  action. 
There  was  a  mad  j^ell  from  our  friends  outside,  and  a  few  cries  of  "sur- 


SrOXAL  THEK.    AI.I,AT<  >(  )NA,    (XT.  5.   l,Sri4. 


A  Sehil's  of  Errors.  255 

render  "  among  our  own  jjoople.  but  a  l)rave  fellow  leaped  to  the  summit 
of  the  parapet,  where  it  did  not  seem  possible  to  live  for  a  single  second, 
grasped  the  flagstaff,  waved  it,  drove  the  stump  into  the  parapet,  and 
dropped  back  again  luihurt.  His  action  restored  confidence;  a  great  Yan- 
kee cheer  drowned  the  tunmlt,  and  nocry  of  "surrender"  was  afterwards 
heard. 

Here  now  is  presented  the  testimony  of  Corse  himself,  and  of 
Col.  Ludlow,  that  the  men  would  not  expose  themselves,  and 
that  they  cried  ""cease  tiring,""  and  ''surrender."  I  know,  as  do 
hundreds  of  f)thers  now  living,  that  the  tire  of  the  fort  was  si- 
lenced, because  our  men  were  close  up;  and  if  any  one  inside  the 
fort  or  in  the  ditch  exposed  his  head,  instantly  it  became  the  tar- 
get for  several  Confederates.  Confederates  moved  about  with 
impunity,  and  I  called  the  attention  of  my  staff  to  Johnson 
(CockrelFs  flag  bearer)  riding  up  to  the  north  side  of  the  fort, 
sitting  quietly  on  his  horse,  and  listening  to  what  was  going  on 
in  the  fort.  In  a  recent  letter  from  him  he  writes  to  J.  M. 
Brown,  of  Atlanta:  "I  remember  riding  up  very  close  to  the 
fort.  The  distance  was  short,  as  I  was  close  enough  to  tell  what 
the  Federals  were  doing  in  there."  After  12  m.  the  Confeder- 
ates merely  Avatched  for  any  person  exposing  his  head  above  the 
parapet,  and  so  I  am  sure  that  the  tire  described  was  not  so  se- 
vere as  related  by  Gen.  Corse,  but  it  was  very  fatal. 

Gen.  Corse  goes  on  with  his  report,  and  writes  that  a])out  2: 30 
P.M.  the  enemy  massed  a  force  (behind  a  small  house)  which  he 
threw  into  great  confusion,  and  that  ""  from  this  time  on  until  4 
p.M.^we  had  the  advantage  of  the  enemy,  and  maintained  it  with 
ijuch  success  that  they  were  driven  from  every  position,  and  fi- 
nally fled  in  great  confusion,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded, 
and  our  little  garrison  in  possession  of  the  field." 

It  is  hardly  possible  to  crowd  into  a  short  paragraph  more  er- 
rors than  are  found  in  the  four  lines  above,  and  most  of  them  he 
well  knew  to  be  false.  It  is  true,  no  dou]>t,  that  he  was  not 
aware  of  the  information  sent  me  that  induced  me  to  withdraw 
my  troops.  That  dispatch  was  received  at  12:15  p.m.  The  Car- 
tersville  road,  running  north,  passes  within  a  few  yards  of  fort 
''C,"  and  then  continues  some  tAvo  hundred  and  fifty  yards  on 
through  the  captured  works.  It  Avas  open  to  my  infantry,  but 
Avas  there  not  life  enough  in  the  two  forts,  "C"  and  "T,"  to 
shoot  down  some  of  the  horses  and  mules  passing  by  Avithin  short 


256  Two  Wars. 

pist(il  shot  if  I  attempted  to  move  the  artillery,  baor^as^e  wao^ons, 
and  ainbuhinees  and  block  the  road  if  1  decided  to  move  /lorth 
to  avoid  Sherman's  troops  marchino:  from  the  south  to  the  relief 
of  Allatoona  i 

So  I  resolved  to  ol)tain  possession  of  the  Acworth  and  Dalhis 
road  before  it  was  occupied  in  force  by  the  Federals,  trustino:  to 
their  slow  and  cautious  movements.  To  this  end,  I  lirst  ordered 
all  the  artillery  except  one  battery  to  start  at  once  to  the  Alla- 
toona Creek  bridge  to  join  the  Mississippi  regiment  left  there, 
and  hold  that  position.  Next,  Sears  was  directed  to  withdraw 
immediately  from  the  north  side  in  front  of  fort  "T,"  and  Cock- 
rell  to  commence  at  1 :  30  p.  m.  ;  and,  owing  to  the  rough  hillsides, 
to  coiiie  out  in  squads-,  ar  iinllv! dually.  Although  Sears  began 
the  movement  over  an  hour  before  Cockrell  and  Young  did,  the 
latter  were  all  collected  on  the  ridge  first,  and  sat  there  under 
the  shade  of  the  trees,  within  sight  and  easy  ritle  range  of  fort 
"'C,''  until  about  8  p.m.,  waiting  for  Sears,  who  had  to  go  around 
the  pond  made  by  the  Yankees  damming  up  Allatoona  Creek. 
During  all  this  time  ])ut  few  shots  were  tired  by  the  enemy. 
One,  however,  was  fired  at  us,  and  it  killed  a  man  who  had  aj)- 
propriated  a  fine  pair  of  cavalry  boots  from  the  stores,  and  he 
fell  dead  at  my  feet  where  we  were  sitting.  In  the  meantime  1 
went  among  the  wounded  men  who  could  not  walk  over  the  rocky 
hills  to  our  ambulances,  and  explained  to  them  why  they  would 
have  to  l)e  left,  and  that  surgeons  had  been  detailed  to  remain 
with  them.     They  gave  me  thanks  without  complaint. 

After  I  showed  Gens.  Cockrell  and  Y'oung  the  dispatches  I,had 
received,  and  informed  them  of  my  intention  not  to  remain  and 
make  an  assault  on  fort  ''C,"  lest  reenforcements  for  the  gairi- 
son  should  arrive  before  we  could  leave  the  place,  they  denuu-red, 
and  said  their  men  were  mad,  and  wanted  to  remain  and  capture 
the  place.  Col.  Gates,  of  the  Missouri  Brigade,  declared  that  he 
would  capture  fort  ''C*  in  twenty  minutes  after  the  arrival  and 
distribution  of  oui-  ammunition,  by  way  of  the  sally  port.  He 
asserted  that  tliey  were  so  crowded  inside  that  but  few  men  could 
fire. 

I  adhered  to  my  decision  to  withdraw,  because  the  men  had  al- 
ready l)een  three  days  and  two  nights  without  rest  or  sleej).  and 
that  they  could  not  pass  a  third  niglil  without  sleep,  and  risk 
ha\iiig  1(»  light  i-eciiforcements  inoniciilarily  expected:  and  llic 


A  Silent  Battlefield.  257 

suhseciucnt  iirri\;il  of  troops  from  Ciirtersvillc  ut  .S  i>. m.  proved 
the  correctness  of  my  jiidirmciit;  also  Martin's  Brigade  reached 
Allatoona  next  morninii. 

About  3  P.M.  the  hist  of  Sears's  men  arrived  on  the  ridge  near 
the  fort  where  we  rested  awaitino;  them,  and  we  then  left  the 
ridge  and  moved  to  the  Cartersville  road,  where  the  w'agons  were 
left.  Cockrell  was  now  ordered  to  proceed  with  the  infantry 
force  to  the  Allatoona  Creek  })ridge,  and  join  the  Mississippi 
regiment  and  artillery  already  there  on  the  Dallas  road.  I  rode 
down  to  the  battery  still  in  position  on  Moore's  Hill  to  give  in- 
structions, and  remained  there  sometime,  not  a  little  astonished 
at  the  scene  presented  to  my  view.  The  declining  sun,  seen 
through  the  calm,  hazy  atmosphere,  shone  red,  like  the  rising  of 
the  full-orbed  moon,  on  the  fortifications  before  us.  All  was  si- 
lent now  where  the  battle  raged  so  long,  and  the  mellow  light 
gleamed  so  gently  down  on  the  wounded  and  the  dead  that  I  re- 
marked to  the  officers  and  men  around  me:  "Silence;  like  the 
])all  of  death,  rests  over  Allatoona;  it  is  as  lifeless  as  a  grave- 
yard at  midnight."  I  even  went  up  an  inclined  tree  and  used 
my  glasses  in  vain  to  discover  a  human  ]>eing.  And  so  Corse's 
statement  that  we  "were  driven  from  every  position,  and  finally 
tied  in  great  confusion,"  leaps  over  the  bombastic  and  loses  its 
force  in  ridiculous  excess  of  inaccuracy. 

Corse,  in  his  report,  says  that  he  l^rought  with  him  165,000 
rounds  of  ammunition,  and  Ludlow  states  that  "it  was  all  ex- 
pended except  two  hundred  and  fifty  rounds."  All  the  artillery 
anununition  Corse  had  in  fort  "C"  was  expended,  and  he  got  a 
man  to  go  after  some  from  fort  "T,"  and  he  returned  safely 
with  an  armful.     See  his  report. 

I  will  pause  here  awhile,  that  you  may  make  a  survey  of  the 
field  of  battle  at  1: 30  p.m. 

For  over  two  hours  there  had  been  pent  up  in  fort  "C,"  inside 
and  in  the  ditch  outside,  the  Thirty-Ninth  Iowa,  the  Seventh  Il- 
linois, theFiftieth  Illinois,  the  Ninety-Third  Illinois,  the  Twelfth 
Illinois,  two  companies  of  the  Fifty-Seventh  Illinois,  and  their 
artillery,  1,453  in  number,  less  the  killed,  badly  wounded,  and 
prisoners  resulting  from  their  defense  of  the  redoubt  "  R." 

The  fort,  built  for  artillery  mainly,  had  but  seventy-seven 
yards  of  parapet,  which  made  it  so  dangerous  for  any  one  to  ex- 
pose his  head  above  the  parapet  that  their  men  would  not  fire 
17 


258  Tn-o  Wars. 

voluntarily,  "and  most  of  their  otHoers  wore  killed  or  wounded 
in  settinij  the  men  an  example;"  and  they  passed  the  word  to 
"  cease  lirintr.'  They  cried  "surrender."  Some  "played  dead,'' 
and  the  combatants  stood  on  the  "living  corpses."  Others  sat 
down  on  them.  Even  Corse  himself  used  (me  for  a  seat  after  he 
was  wounded  (Ludlow),  They  were  out  of  water.  Their  am- 
munition was  nearly  all  expended.  Their  tiring  had  slackened 
to  a  musket  shot  at  intervals.  They  let  us  withdraw  without 
molestation,  and  we  sat  in  the  shade  of  the  trees  in  full  view  of 
the  fort,  within  musket  range,  from  1:30  p.m.  until  '■'>  i'.:\i.  await- 
ing Sears.  They  saw  us  all  leave  the  ridge  at  the  last  named 
hour.  At  4-  P.M.  Corse  sent  dispatch  No.  23:  "We  still  hold 
out."  So  they  were  in  the  fort  then,  and  did  not  come  out  until 
the  Confederates  were  all  out  of  sight.  The  otiicers  tried  to  keep 
up  the  spirits  of  their  men  Ijy  assuring  them  that  "Sherman  will 
soon  come"  (Corse's  report).  The  hope  of  speedy  relief  pre- 
vented utter  despondency,  and  they  waited  and  waited,  hoped 
and  hoped  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  encouraging  promises  im- 
plied in  the  dispatches  sent  them  by  Sherman,  as:  "Hold  fast, 
we  are  coming;"  "Sherman  moving  in  force,  hold  out; "  "Sher- 
man working  hard  for  you;"  "Near  you."  With  his  troops  in 
this  condition,  and  in  the  face  of  all  these  facts.  Corse  ofticially 
publishes  to  his  commander  and  to  the  world,  in  a  vainglorious 
manner,  that  the  Confederates  "were  driven  from  every  posi- 
tion, and  finally  fled  in  great  confusion,  leaving  their  dead 
and  wounded,  and  our  little  garrison  in  possession  of  the 
fieldlll"  It  is  a  beautiful  description  of  an  event  that  never 
ha])pened. 

It  must  have  been  pretty  soon  after  we  left  Allatoona  that 
Gen.  (ireen  B.  Raum,  commanding  a  division  of  cavalry  that 
was  hovering  around  Itetween  the  Etowah  bridge  and  the  Alla- 
toona, arrived  and  made  a  social  call  on  Corse,  and  sympathized 
with  him  in  his  afflictions;  l)ut  he  must  have  left  at  an  early  hour, 
for  he  went  to  Cartersville  that  evening  and  sent  a  disi)atch, 
wliich  will  be  found.  No.  25,  dated  October  5. 

Soon  Sherman  was  infornK^l  that  the  Confederates  had  re- 
treated, and  had  taken  the  road  to  Dallas.  So  lie  cliecVed  his 
troops  tJi/U  were  inarcliing  on  AUatoona.  However,  Corse's  train, 
expected  (nvry  hour  (hirhuj  the  hattle^  returned  to  Allatoona  at 
8  P.M.  with  the  remainder  of  jRomtfs  Brhiadc.     Some  cavalry 


260  7'iro  ir,ii?.9. 

also  arrived,  and  the  next  iii()i'niii<r  c-aiuc  Murfni's  liriijude.  . 
^^  ith  liiiii  the  condition  of  allairs  was  very  inucli  chang^ed  now. 
Durluir  tliis  time  the  weary  Confederates,  after  eai)turin,<r  the 
blockhouse  with  a  .irarrison  of  one  hundred  and  ten  men  at  Alla- 
toona  Cicek  hridire,  inarched  on  till  miduiofht  of  the  .^th.  and 
the  next  niornino;'  were  at  New  Hope  Church,  fai-  away  from 
Allatoona.  Corse  was  now  restino-  in  the  bosom  of  his  friends, 
who  no  doiiht  conirratulated  him  on  his  happy  deliverance  from 
the  distress  of  the  day  previous:  and  as  there  were  no  Confed- 
erates near  to  disti-ess  him  any  more,  he  wrote  Sherman,  at  2 
P.M.  ox  THE  Ctii.  his  (so-called)  famous  dispatch,  which  for 
CHEEK  is  unetjualed: 

I  am  short  a  clicck  Ixiiic  and  an  ear.  but  can  whi{)  all  li-ll  yet  I! 

Now  the  adverb  '"yet"  in  this  case  implies  eonditions  un- 
chanofed.  But,  as  they  were  then  entirely  chanofed,  he  was  not 
justified  in  sendino-  such  a  dis]iatch.  It  is  a  vain<>lorious,  self- 
landatory  dispatch,  no  doubt  sent  to  divert  attention  from  the 
real  condition  in  which  his  connnand  had  been  placed;  oi' it  may 
l)e  that  the  joy  he  felt  the  day  after  the  battle,  on  lieinii-  i-ei'n- 
foreed  and  rescued  from  the  ''slauo-hter  pen"  (in  which  he  was 
pent  up),  l)y  Sherman's  moveuKMits  to  save  him,  caused  him  to 
write  it;  if  so,  it  is  not  excusable.  If,  however,  intoxicated  at 
the  mess  talkie  i)y  the  cono-ratulations  of  friends  and  the  usual 
accompaniments  recpiired  for  Ins  condition,  he  was  insi)ired  to 
send  that  dispatch  (as  a  postprandial  speech  is  made),  to  mean 
n()thin<r,  then  he  may  be  forgiven. 

But  the  unbouirht  orrace  of  life,  the  trained  veracity,  the 
chivalrous  respect  for  foemen  his  e(|ual  in  valoi'.  whose  darin<>' 
he  had  witnessed,  whose  prowess  he  had  felt,  and  from  whose 
presence  he  so  lono-ed  to  be  delivered,  should  have  restrained 
him.  at  a  iiuich  latei-  <late.  from  wi'itinir  in  his  oHicial  report  the 
fabricated  stoiv  of  how  he  "drove  the  Confedei'ates  from  every 
position  until  finally  they  tied  in  o-reat  confusion."  Ix'cause  he 
well  knew  this  statement  was  not  true. 

In  connection  with  (Jen.  Coise's  ^  isit  with  Josei)li  M.  l>rown 
to  the  l)attle  gi'ound  at  .Vllatoona,  I  have  a  letter  from  Mr. 
P)rown  <fi\inL'"  nie  othei-  infoi'ination  of  what  was  said  during 
his  visit  to  Atlanta.  As  a  guest  of  Senat(»r  Ihown  this  conver- 
sation grew  frank  and  friendly. 


Instructing  the  Artist.  2G1 

Atlanta.  Ga.,  August  31,  1900. 

Gen.  S.  G.  French,  Peni^rtcola.  Fla. 

My  Dear  General:  Answering  your  inciuirv  :is  to  Mr.  De  ThuLstrup's 
picture  of  the  battle  of  Allatooiia.  I  will  state  tliat  in  1886  Gen.  John  M. 
Corse  came  to  Georgia  with  tlie^almve  well-known  battle  artist.  I  v.'^ent 
with  them  to  Allatoona,  where  we  spent  almost  a  daj'  going  over  the 
various  points  of  the  ridge  on  Ijoth  sides  of  the  railroad,  where  there  were 
fortifications. 

Returning  to  Atlanta,  these  two  gentlemen  were  my  guests  at  my  fa- 
ther's home.  That  night,  after  some  social  conversation.  Gen.  Corse  and 
Mr.  De  Thulstrup  went  U])stairs  to  their  sleeping  apartments.  Within 
probably  an  hour  afterwards  I  also  went  up  to  my  sleeping  room.  The 
hall  door  leading  fromi  my  room  to  Gen.  Corse's  being  open,  I  was  unin- 
tentionally made  a  hearer  of  conversation  going  on.  Gen.  Corse  was 
quite  animated  in  giA'ing  instructions  to  the  artist  as  to  how  to  draw  the 
picture.  I  very  distinctly  heard  him  use  the  folloAving  expression:  "Be 
sure  you  have  the  Rebels  running."  He  repeated  this  in  very  positive 
tones. 

Any  one  looking  at  the  picture  will  see  that  the  artist  faithfully  com- 
plied with  the  General's  instructions. 

Very  truly  yours.  JosEi'ii  M.  Buowx. 

AMien  J.  ]\I.  Brown  told  Corse  that  French  never  received  hh 
reply  to  his  summons  to  surrender,  he  answered:  "Tiiis  is  the 
tirst  information  I  have  to  that  eti'ect,  that  my  answer  never 
reached  him.""  Then  Corse  told  him  he  was  in  great  haste  in 
examining  the  lines  and  disposing  of  his  troops,  ''  When  one  of 
his  staft'  othcers  hailed  me  with  advice  that  he  had  a  note  from 
the  enemy's  commander,  which  he  supposed  was  a  summons  to 
surrender,  ...  I  took  the  note  and  read  it:  it  made  me 
mad,  because,  from  what  I  could  see  of  his  forces,  and  what  I 
knew  of  mine,  I  believed  that  I  had  about  as  big  a  force  as  he 
had,  hence  considered  the  summons  a  superfluous  piece  of  bra- 
vado. I  sat  down  on  a  log,  and,  pulling  my  notebook  out  of 
my  pocket,  wrote  the  reply  across  the  face  of  one  of  its  pages, 
which  I  tore  out  and  handed  to  my  staff  officer  with  instructions 
to  take  it  to  the  l)earer  of  the  sunuuons.  ...  I  never  knew 
whether  my  answer  reached  French  or  not." 

There  is  something  in  this  statement  which  must  be  regarded 
as  very  remarkal)U.\  for  in  the  ordinary  affairs  of  life,  if  even  a 
servant  be  sent  to  deliver  a  letter,  and  does  not  find  the  person 
to  whom  he  was  to  deliver  it,  would  he  throw  it  away  and  never 
mention  it,  or  would  he  return  with  it  and  report  that  he  did  not 
find  the  man  to  whom  he  was  to  hand  it?   And  does  not  common 


262  Tn-o  Wa/^s. 

sense  tell  lis  that  on  siuli  a  momentous  matter  as  this,  involvinof 
the  lives  of  hundreds  of  men,  his  staff  officer  would  have  re})orted 
that  the  1\a.g  of  truce  could  not  be  found,  and  have  returned  the 
dispatch  given  him  i'  And,  furthermore,  can  any  person  of  in- 
telliofence  believe  that  Gen.  Corse  and  the  said  staff'  officer  did 
not  speak  about  this  pretentious  answer  to  the  summons  at  any 
time,  which  is  published  to  the  world  in  facsimile,  of  which  Julius 
E.  Brown,  of  Atlanta,  has  one  copy.  If  he  published  the  "'fac- 
simile'"' of  the  dispatch  sent  me,  where  did  he  get  it?  It  seems 
to  me  the  General  ''doth  protest  too  much."  And  further  he 
says:  "  Being  in  great  pain  from  my  wound.  I  took  the  train  the 
night  of  the  .5th  for  Rome."  If  this  he  true,  how  could  he 
have  issued  his  '"famous"  dispatch  from  Allatoona  on  the  aft- 
ernoon of  the  ()th,  for  it  gives  the  place,  date,  and  the  hour? 

I  am  inclined  to  the  belief  that  he  did  not  leave  Allatoona 
until  after  the  6th.  or  on  the  second  day  after  the  tight. 

I  would  not  detract  anything  from  the  well-earned  reputation 
of  Gen.  Corse — and  more  especially  so,  as  he  is  not  living — yet 
it  is  a  duty  incumbent  on  me,  a  duty  I  owe  to  my  children,  and 
particularly  to  the  noble  Confederate  soldiers  who  were  with 
me,  to  protect  them  against  the  statement  of  being  "driven 
away"  by  the  garrison.  The  demands  of  impartial  history  re- 
quire of  me — an  actor  therein,  a  living  witness — to  transcribe 
from  my  diary  the  facts  as  there  recorded  at  the  time,  so  that 
the  world  may  know  to  what  extent  the  many  reported  inci- 
dents of  the  battle  have  truth  for  their  foundation  as  we  now 
find  them  related  in  nursery  talcs  to  children,  taught  in 
schools,  narrated  in  story,  and  sung  in  the  gospel  hymn  of 
"Hold  the  Fort"  wherever  the  cross  is  seen  and  Christianity 
prevails. 

But  in  the  current  literature  of  the  North  derived  from  the 
exaggerated  bulletins  daily  sent  from  the  seat  of  war  there  is  a 
wonderful  admixture  of  truth  and  error,  and  I  am  trying  to 
separate  them  so  far  as  they  are  found  in  the  ordinary  versions 
of  this  battle,  and  emphatically  to  declare  that  the  Confederate 
trooi)s  were  /lof  repulsed  as  stated  in  tlie  light  publications  of 
the  day,  or  as  written  in  Corse's  report. 

If  any  further  testimony  be  desired,  I  would  refer  you  to  the 
following  letter  from  a  ])iiblication  made  by  Joseph  ]\I.  Brown, 
son  of  the  late  Senator  Joseph  K.  r>i'o\\ii.  of  (Jeorgia. 


Exchanging  Guns.  263 

Allatoona,  Ga.,  November  10,  1890. 
Mr.  Joseph  M.  Brown. 

Dear  Sir:  In  re])ly  to  the  inquiries  contained  in  your  letter  of  October 
31,  I  will  state  that,  with  my  brother,  I  was  in  Allatoona  on  the  night  of 
October  4,  18G4,  when  the  place  was  surrounded  by  Confederates  under 
Gen.  French. 

Eai'ly  the  next  morning,  for  safety,  we  went  into  the  fort  on  the  west 
side  of  the  railroad,  and  were  there  during  the  battle  that  day.  Gen. 
Corse  commanded  on  the  west  side  of  the  railroad,  and  was  in  the  fort  all 
the  latter  part  of  the  fight.  The  Federals  fought  desperately,  and  after 
they  lost  fort  "R"*  across  the  Cartersville  road  they  were  very  much  dis- 
heartened. They  could  get  no  water  without  exposing  themselves  to  a 
deadlj'  fire;  and  it  was  very  much  needed,  especially  for  the  w'ounded. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  engagement  1  frequently  heard  it  said  they 
were  nearly  out  of  ammunition.  They  were  on  the  point  of  giving  up  the 
fight  several  times.  The  command  "Cease  firing"  was  given  by  some- 
body and  passed  around  the  fort,  but  then  some  of  the  officers  rallied  the 
men  a  little. 

If  the  attack  had  been  kept  up  a  little  while  longer,  the  fort  would  have 
certainly  been  taken;  but  to  .the  surprise  of  the  Federals,  their  enemy's 
fire  slackened  and  the  Confederates  retired  from  the  front  of  the  fort.  The 
Federals  at  this  time  were  at  a  loss  to  understand  this  movement,  when 
they  themselves  were  nearly  ready  to  surrender.  They  seemed  momen- 
tarily to  expect  a  renewal  of  the  attack  from  some  other  quarter.  They 
remained  quietly  in  the  fort  for  nearly  or  quite  three-quarters  of  an  hour 
after  the  Confederates  retired.  But  when  they  found  that  the  Confederates 
would  not  -renew  the  fighting  there  was  a  great  rally  in  the  fort.  Then 
there  was  some  desultory  firing  at  the  Confederates  on  the  south  of  the 
fort  near  the  depot  and  station.  The  Federals  did  not  sally  out  of  the 
fort  until  the  Confederates  were  gone  entirely  out  of  sight. 

W.  M.  Dextox. 

As  regards  the  arms  captured  by  Corse,  I  will  simple  reuiark 
they  were  inferior  muskets  exchanged  on  the  field  for  Spring- 
field rifles,  and  Henry  repeating  rifles  (16  shooters),  one  of 
which  I  turned  over,  by  my  Aid  Yerger,  to  the  United  States 
Ordnance  officer  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Had  Corse  gone  to 
the  blockhouse  at  Allatoona  creek,  he  would  have  captured  there 
eighty-five  muskets  (thrown  away)  in  the  road,  in  exchange  for 
those  we  captured  there,  which  would  have  augmented  his  list 
of  arms  captured. 

•■■  It  is  projjer  that  I  should  here  state  that  my  official  report  (page  816,  War  Records,  Vol. 
39)  contains  an  error.  When  I  saw  the  Fiftieth  and  Twelfth  Illinois  leave  the  east  side  of 
the  railroad  and  join  the  force  on  the  west  side,  I  believed  that  all  were  on  that  side,  and 
wrote,  "The  Federal  forces  were  now  confined  to  one  redoubt  (fort  'C'),  and  we  occupied  the 
ditch."  I  did  not  discover  this  error  until  after  it  wa.s  too  late  to  correct  it.  It  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  battle  was  fought  on  a  mountain  ridge,  some  of  the  sides  inaccessibly 
steep,  and  covered  with  timber  obstructing  the  view. 


264  Tiro  Wars. 

Provisions. 

There  were  about  one  million  rations  of  bread  at  Allatoona, 
and  two  million  seven  hundred  thousand  in  Atlanta,  and  ?)ot 
two  million  seven  hundred  thousand  in  Allatdonu  as  stated 
by  Col.  Ludlow.  (Sherman's  letter  to  Corse,  paore  J;U,  Vol.  39.) 
The  rations  in  Allatoona  in  no  way  atieeted  the  "march  to  the 
sea,""  They  were  ordered  to  Rome  on  the  11th.  for  use  above. 
(See  page  i^oT. ) 

"I  propose  breakiu»r  up  the  railroad  from  Chattanooga  and 
striking  out  with  wagons.  .  .  .  Until  we  can  depopulate 
Georgia  it  is  useless  to  occupy  it.  .  .  .  The  utter  destruc- 
tion of  the  roads^  houses,  and  people  cripple  their  resources. 
...  1  can  make  Georgia  liowl.  ...  I  have  eight  thousand 
cattle  and  three  million  rations  of  bread."   (Page  1H2.  Vol,  89.) 

The  destruction  of  the  stores  at  Allatoona,  had  it  been  done, 
would  not  have  interfered  with  the  ""march  to  the  sea." 

The  stores  in  Allatoona  were  in  our  pt)ssession,  and  they  were 
not  set  on  tire  by  our  men  because  they  wanted  some  them- 
selves, and  much  was  appropriated,  l^ut  I  had  no  knowledge 
of  there  being  a  large  depot  there  until  1  withdrew  Cockrcll 
and  Young:  and  while  waiting  for  Sears  1  heard  the  men  speak 
about  them.  On  obtaining  this  information  a  party  of  men 
were  sent  there  to  burn  them.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  only 
three  matches  could  be  found,  and  Gen.  Cockrell  had  them,  and 
when  the  party  reached  the  stores  the  matches  failed  to  ignite. 

Gen.  Sherman  left  Atlanta  November  1.5,  1864,  and  arrived  at 
Savannah  on  the  loth  of  December.  He  writes  that  he  had  sixty- 
tive  thousand  men.  To  supply  these  men  the  twenty-seven  days 
they  were  on  the  march  would  require  one  million  seven  hun- 
dred and  tifty-tive  thousand  rations.  They  averaged  eight  miles 
per  day — for  the  distance  is  about  two  hundred  and  twenty  miles. 
I  have  related  to  you  how  I  made  a  march  (with  a  large  Avagon 
train,  through  a  desolate  country,  heavily  laden)  of  ninety-six 
miles  in  lifty-two  hours:  and  this  without  v/ater. 

This  nnich  vaunted  "march  to  the  sea"  was  a  pleasure  excur- 
sion, through  a  well-cultivated  country,  and  is  a  mere  bagatelle 
compared  with  that  made  Ity  the  ^Mormons  from  Illinois  to 
Utah,  or  the  many  expeditions  made  overland  to  California  dur- 
ing the  gold  excitement.  The  distance  to  California  is  ten 
times  ijreater  than  the  distance  from  Atlanta  to  Savannah. 


Snki.'max's  Boast.  266 

ShcniiMii  hoast fully  wi-itcs  llial  he  "'(Icsl  roved  two  liiindrcd  and 
sixty-live  miles  of  railroad,  carried  off  ten  thousand  mules,  and 
countless  slaves;  tli  .t  he  did  damaij^c  to  the  amount  of  S1(M», ()()<>,- 
(»<»().  Of  this,  his  ai-my  ,<j:-ot  Si^o.ooo.ikki.  and  the  !|80,000,0'00  was 
waste,"  as  they  went  "  Iootin<»''"  tliroujjli  (Jeorfjia. 

Hut  not  content  with  this,  when  ''this  cruel  war  was  over," 
lie  presented  the  delectable  spectacle  of  "how  we  went  thieving 
throuu'll  (ieoriria"  at  the  iri'JHid  review  of  /i/'-s  army  in  AVashinir- 
ton,  l>y  mounting  his  hummers  on  mnles  laden  with  chickens, 
ducks,  geese,  lambs.  ])i<js,  and  other  farm  })i'oducti()ns.  unblush- 
inffly  displayed,  to  cover  up  the  concealed  money,  jewelry,  and 
plate  taken  from  the  hel})less  women — to  delight  the  President, 
to  edify  the  loyal  peo])le.  to  gratify  the  hatred  of  the  populace 
to  the  South,  to  ])opularize  the  thirst  for  ])lundering  made  l)y 
his  troops,  to  be  an  object  lesson  to  the  present  generation,  to 
instill  a  broader  view  of  moral  right,  to  heighten  modest  sensi- 
liilities.  to  refine  the  delicate  tastes  of  young  ladies,  to  humiliate 
a  con(juered  pe()})le;  or  wherefore  was  this  unwise  ''Punch  and 
pJudy"  show  given? 

During  the  re\olutionary  war.  when  the  British  fleet  ascended 
the  Potomac  river,  one  ship  sailed  up  to  ]\lount  Vernon — the 
residence  of  the  arch  rebel,  Washington — and  made  a  requisi- 
tion for  provisions  which  his  agent  filled.  The  English  com- 
mander must  have  been  a  gentleman  because  he  did  not  ])urn 
the  dwelling,  insult  the  family,  nor  connnit  ro])bery!II 

Gen.  Bradley  T.  Johnston,  in  his  life  of  Gen.  J.  E.  dohnston, 
quotes  that,  "A1)ubekr  in  the  year  63-J:  gave  his  chiefs  of  the 
army  of  Syria  orders  as  follows:  'Rememl)er  that  you  are  al- 
ways in  the  presence  of  God,  on  the  verge  of  death,  in  the  as- 
surance of  judgment  and  the  hope  of  paradise.  Avoid  injustice 
and  oppression.  .  .  .  When  you  tight  the  l)attles  of  the  Lord 
acquit  yourselves  like  men,  without  turning  your  backs:  but  let 
not  your  victory  be  stained  with  the  blood  of  women  or  chil- 
dren. Dentroij  wo  jxilni  trf<\  nor  Iturn  any  p''/(/.s  of  cont.  Cut 
down  no  fruit  treei^,  nor  do  any  iitixclth^f  to  aittl(\  only  such  as 
you  kill  to  eat.  When  you  make  any  covenant  or  article,  stand 
to  it  and  be  as  good  as  your  word.  As  you  go  on,  you  will  find 
some  religious  jiersons  who  live  retired  in  monasteries,  and  ])ur- 
pose  themselves  to  serve  God  in  that  way.  Let  them  alone,  and 
neither  kill  them  nor  destroy  their  itionastei'ies.'' 


206  Two  Wars. 

••  Judofed  by  the  laws  g:iven  Moses  on  Sinai,  or  the  teachings  of 
Him  who  stilled  the  waves  on  (Talilee,  or  the  Koran,  the  prin- 
cipk's  of  morality,  or  feelings  of  humanity;  were  not  the  gates 
of  Paradise  open  to  Ahubekr? 

"Owing  to  the  barbarities  that  were  practiced  by  the  Eng- 
lish soldiers  and  sailors,  and  the  refusal  to  exchange  i)risouers, 
(  ai)t.  riolin  Paul  Jones,  when  in  command  of  the  Continental 
ship.  Hanger,  on  April  2P>,  ITIS.  ]an<led  on  the  Isle  of  St.  ^lary, 
Scotland,  with  a  small  force  and  surrounded  the  house  of  the 
Earl  of  Shetland,  to  ciirry  the  earl  away,  and  have  him  de- 
tained until  through  his  means  a  general  and  fair  exchange  of 
prisoners,  in  Europe  as  well  as  in  .Vmerica,  could  l)e  eti'ecte<l. 

"The  earl  was  not  at  home,  and  Jones  permitted  his  men  to 
take  silverware  from  the  castle  as  fair  plunder  and  a  just  re- 
venge for  the  acts  of  British  sailors  in  America,  who  had  not 
only  looted  the  liomes  of  the  rich.  l)ut  had  dri\cn  otl'  o/ir  cow 
and  o/te  pig  of  the  laborer. 

"The  silver  taken  was  of  the  real  value  of  t'.^iXi  ])ouuds,  but 
when  sold  for  the  benetit  of  the  crew,  Jones  bought  it  and  re- 
turned it  (at  his  own  expense)  at  a  cost  of  t'l,00()  pounds,  all 
told,  to  the  noble  lord,"  (Spear's  "History  of  Our  Navy,"' 
pages  142-148,  Vol.  I. ) 

Was  not  ?2ngland  fighting  the  colonies  then  in  rebellion? 

It  is  not  I  wlio  charge  Sherman  with  destroying  corutields, 
cutting  down  fruit  trees,  or  "driving  off  one  cow  and  one  pig;" 
he  himself  l)oasts  of  having  done  it.  If  he  did  take  the  '"''one 
cow  and  the  one  pig,"  he  kindly  left  the  poor  women  their  tears 
and  their  memory. 

Sherman. 

The  dispatches  numbered  1,  2,  ;^,  5,  6,  i>,  lo.  11.  hi.  1.^,  17,  18, 
P.*,  !!•>,  2'j,  and  2(5,  which  I  have  gi\en,  will  show  Gen.  Sher- 
man's untiring  eifoi-ts  to  save  Allatoona,  and  to  prevent  my  di- 
vision fiom  joining  Hood.  No.  2(5  shows  that  on  the  4th  his 
force  went  into  camp  at  the  foot  of  I^ittle  Kennesaw.  Nos.  15 
and  1<>  show  that  Stanley,  with  a  ])art  of  the  army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, was  on  Pine  Mountain  at  2:lt>  r.M.  on  the  .Mh.  At  that 
hoiu'  we  were  sitting  under  the  shade  of  the  trees  at  Allatoona, 
waiting  for  Sears's  men.  and  on  the  ridge  by  the  foililications. 

My  <liaiy.  written  on  the  spot,  says  we  left  with  the  wagons 


Ta  ru  y  Mo  vements.  26T 

at  4:30  p.m.  Next,  we  were  detained  an  hour  in  capturing  the 
blockhouse  at  tlie  creek.  If  Stanley  had  moved  promptly,  he 
could  have  occupied  the  Dallas  road,  moving  northwest,  at  some 
point  many  hours  in  advance  of  me.  No.  17  informs  Stanley: 
"I  Avant  to  control  the  Sandtown  road  back  to  Allatoona."  That 
is  the  road  I  marched  over  from  the  l)l()ckhouse  to  New  Hope 
Church  on  th-e  5th^  and  inoritlng  of  the  Gth. 

Sherman's  cavalry  was  ordered  several  times  to  hold  that 
road.  They  were  two  miles  in  advance  of  Kemjrs  Mill  at  3:10 
P.M.  on  the  .5th  (see  No.  16),  and  not  four  miles  from  the  road. 
AVe  were  then  at  Allatoona. 

In  Sherman's  ''Memoirs,''  Vol.  II.,  page  147,  you  will  find  these 
words:  "From  Kennesaw  I  ordered  the  Twenty-Third  Corps  to 
march  due  west  on  the  Burnt  Hickory  road,  and  to  burn  houses 
or  piles  of  brush  as  it  progressed  to  indicate  the  head  of  column, 
hoping  to  interpose  this  corps  between  Hood's  main  army  at 
Dallas  and  the  detachment  then  assailing  Allatoona." 

The  red  of  the  army  was  directed  straight  to  Allatoona, 
eighteen  miles  distant. 

By  the  map,  Allatoona  (in  a  direct  line)  is  thirteen  miles 
from  Kennesaw^,  ten  miles  from  Pine  Mountain,  twelve  miles 
from  New  Hope  Church,  eight  miles  from  Big  Shanty,  eleven 
miles  from  Lost  Mountain:  and  from  Pine  Mountain,  where  Gen. 
Stanley  was  on  the  5th  with  part  of  the  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, to  the  road  over  which  1  passed  on  the  6th,  it  k  only  Jive 
miles.  Also  the  cavalry  that  was  at  Kemp's  Mill  at  3:10  p.m. 
on  the  5th  was  within  five  miles  of  the  residence  of  Dr.  Smithy 
where  I  encamped  on  the  night  of  the  5th. 

For  these  facts,  read  again  the  Federal  dispatches  that  I  have 
given.  It  is  therefore  manifest  that  only  by  tardy  and  cautious 
movements,  or  no  movements,  as  Sherman  ordered,  arising  from 
Hood's  fighting  qualities,  they  failed  to  place  a  powerful  force 
across  our  road  before  I  left  the  bridge  across  Allatoona  creek 
or  at  any  time  on  the  6th,  the  day  following. 

Sherman  at  first,  or  "for  a  time,  attributed  this  result"  (my 
withdrawing  my  troops)  "to  the  effect  of  Gen.  Cox's  march "^ 
(see  page  147,  Vol.  II.,  of  his  "Memoirs"),  which,  in  truth,  wa& 
mainly  the  cause ;  but  he  generously  gave— however  erroneous- 
ly—all the  credit  to  his  lieutenant,  with  whom  he  was  well 
pleased  for  "holding  on"  and  "holding  out"  through  faith  in 


268  Two  Wars. 

•'his  promises  to  ooino  to  his  relief."  :m<l  then  eomplimeuted 
hiin  in  a  ireneral  older  that  Corse  must  have  felt  as  l)einor  a  lit- 
tle ironical,  save  only  as  relates  to  ''holdinir  out"  Avith  a  faif/i 
in  Sherman  which  can  be  found  in  St.  laud's  Epistle  to  the  He- 
lirews,  Avhere  he  writes  that  "faith  is  the  substance  of  things 
hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  thinofs  not  seen." 

Sherman's  signal  dispatches  to  Corse  before  and  during  the 
battle  to  ''hold  the  fort,"  intended  only  for  their  encourage- 
ment, has  now  l)ecome  a  AAorld-wide  inspiration  in  the  form  of  a 
gospel  song  written  by  the  evangelist  P.  P.  Bliss. 

Mr.  Joseph  ]\r.  Prown  writes  that  ''the  circumstances  of  the 
messages  and  the  1)attle  being  narrated  to  the  evangelist,  he 
caught  from  them  the  idea  for  the  stirring  words: 

Ho!  my  cf)inrades,  see  the  signal 

Waviiifr  iu  the  sky! 
Reinforcements  now  :i])i)eariiiij, 

Victor}'  is  nigh. 

Chorus. — Hold  the  fort,  for  I  am  coming! 
Jesus  signals  still: 
Wave  the  answer  back  to  licaven: 
"  By  thy  grace  we  will!"' 

"lie  wrote  this  song  on  the  night  that  he  tirst  heard  the  story, 
and  sung  it  in  the  Tabernacle  in  Chicago  next  day.  It  w^as  caught 
up  l)y  the  voices  of  thousands,  and  from  that  day  to  this  has 
been  a  standard  gos})el  lyric." 


HOOD. 

On  the  afternoon  of  October  4,  IsiU,  when  1  was  at  Big 
Shanty,  on  the  railroad  near  Kennesaw,  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart,  my 
corps  commander,  handed  to  me  two  orders  from  Gen.  Hood. 
The  tirst  one  is  dated  October  4-,  7:8<)  a.m.,  and  the  second  at 
11:30  A.M.  .These  two  orders  may  be  found  in  my  ollicial  report 
of  the  l)attle  of  Allatoona  on  a  preceding  j)agc. 

The  purport  of  these  two  cu'ders  is:  that  1  will  take  my  di- 
vision to  Allatoonaand  till  up  the  deej)  cut  there  <a  jjliotogiaph 
of  a  part  of  this  cut  is  hei-e  given),  and  then  go  on  to  the  Etowah 
river  bridge  and  buiii  it,  if  possil)le  ;  and  thence  march  to 
New  Hope  Church  l»y  taking  roads  running  south  to  New  Hope 


RAILKOAL)    CUT,    ALLATOOXA.       l-ORT    "c"    OX    THE    LEFT,    FOKT 

"t"  on  the  eight. 


270  Two  Wars. 

Church,  and  join  my  (•()i'])s  there:  the  destruction  of  the  l)rid^e 
beiiiir  the  more  imi)ortant  duty;  and  1  was  expected  to  join  the 
army  on  the  Gth. 

If  this  cut  he  critically  examined,  it  Avill  ])e  perceived  that  the 
order  to  "till  it  up"  in  an  hour  or  so,  and  then  g^o  on  to  tlie 
bridge,  does  not  evince  a  profound  knowledge  of  engineering. 
A  little  boy  builds  sand  forts  and  castles  on  the  seashore  with 
wooden  paddles,  and  l)elieves  he  is  a  Vauban  or  an  Inigo  Jones.* 
He  knew  Ave  had  but  a  few^  spades,  and  directed  Gen.  Stewart  to 
borrow  for  me  tools  from  Gen.  Armstrong ;  and  he  had  none. 

In  18S0,  sixteen  years  after  he  wrote  those  orders.  Gen.  Hood 
pul)lished  a  work  called  "Advance  and  Retreat,"  in  which  the 
following  words  are  written  (page  257)  : 

■"I  had  received  information — and  Gen.  Shoupe  records  the 
same  in  his  diary — that  the  enemy  had  in  store,  at  Allatoona, 
large  supplies  which  were  guarded  by  two  or  three  regin'ients. 
As  one  of  the  main  objects  of  f/ie  cain2Mign  was  to  deprive  the 
enemy  of  provisions,  Maj.  Gen.  French  was  ordered  to  move 
with  his  division,  to  capture  the  garrison,  if  practicable,  and 
gain  pomemion  of  the  supplu^.^.  Accordingly  on  the  .5th,  at  10 
A.M.,  after  a  refusal  to  surrender,  he  attacked  the  Federal  forces 
at  Allatoona,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  a  portion  of  the  works  ; 
at  that  juncture  he  received  intelligence  that  large  reenforce- 
ments  were  advancing  in  support  of  the  enemy,  and,  fearing  he 
would  be  cut  off  from  the  main  body  of  the  army,  he  retired  and 
al)andoned  the  attempt.  Maj.  L.  Perot,  adjutant  of  Ector's  15ri- 
gade,  had  informed  me  ])y  letter  that  our  troops  were  in  pos- 
session of  these  stores  during  several  hours,  and  could  easily 
have  destroyed  them.  If  this  assertion  be  correct,  I  presume 
Maj.  Gen.  French  forbade  their  destruction,  in  the  conviction 
of  his  ability  to  successfully  remove  them  for  the  use  of  the  Con- 
federate arniy."" 

Now,  if  any  intelligent  person  will  carefully  scrutinize  the  or- 
ders given  me,  and  then  ponder  oNcr  what  Hood  published,  he 
can  arrive  at  no  other  conclusion  than  that  the  account  published 
is  erroneous.     They  cannot  both  be  true  I 

And  furthci'.  w  hen  I  made  my  ollicial  i'e|)ort  I  copied  my  or- 
ders that  he  ga\c  inc.  and  1  stated  in  my  i'e[)ort  :  "  It  would  ap- 

*Vaul)an — A  French  mai'shal,  the  greatest  of  militar}'  engineers:  born 
1083.     Inigo  .JoiK's     An  cniiiioiil  ui'chilcct  ;   lioni  in  London  ir)7'2. 


Hood's  Main  Object.  271 

pear,  however.  tVoiii  these  orders,  tliat  the  ireiiciul  in  cliief  was 
not  aware  that  tlie  ])ass  was  fortitied  and  ("farrisoiied  that  1  was 
sent  to  have  tiUed  u])."' 

This  report  was,  by  (len.  Stewai-t,  delivered  to  Gen.  II(>()d, 
and  by  him  forwarded  to  the  War  I)e[)artinent  in  Richmond  ; 
thence  it  went  to  the  War  Department  in  Wasiiintrton.  And 
althou»rli  I  therein  state  that  Hoo<l  had  no  knowledge  of  the 
place  beino;  pirrisoned,  or  fortitied,  he  forwarded  it  without 
comment.  He  could  not  do  otherwise.  There  were  the  origi- 
nals copied  in  his  own  order  book. 

"  Gain  possession  of  the  suj)plies  I ''  under  all  theen  vironments, 
is  only  a  vague  expression  of  a  glittering  generality  and  sigui- 
ties  nothing  particular,  and  is  a  mere  platitude  and  nothing 
more.  What  was  I  to  do  with  them?  Bring  them  aw^ay?  re- 
move them  without  a  wagon,  when  about  six  hundred  were  re- 
quired! 

Rut  let  us  su])p()se  that  Hood  actually  did  know  that  Allatoo- 
na  was  fortitied,  garrisoned,  and  a  depot  for  army  rations.  If 
so,  then  he  should  have  imparted  to  either  Gen.  Stewart  or  me 
that  information. 

Again  :  Gen.  Hood  having  declared  that  the  main  object  of 
the  campaign  was  "to  deprive  the  enemy  of  provisions,"  here 
was  the  desired  opportunity  ;  nay,  more — to  appropriate  them 
to  his  own  use.  He  wrote  the  tirst  order  to  me  at  7:80  a.m.  on 
the  4th.  At  that  time  I  was  at  Big  Shanty,  Walthall  at  Moon's, 
and  Loring  at  Ac  worth,  only  two  hours'  (daylight)  march  from 
AUatoonal 

Now  I  ask  in  the  name  of  connnon  sense.  Can  it  l)e  possible 
that,  with  Gen.  Stewart's  army  corps  so  near  those  much  need- 
ed army  supplies,  he  should  order  Gen.  Stewart's  Corps  to  remain 
there  close  by  them  "till  late  in  the  evening,"  and  then  march 
him  away  and  order  me.  the  most  "distant,  to  go  there  and  "take 
possession  of  them  i " 

Had  he  known  what  he  says  he  did,  undoubtedly  he  would 
have  ordered,  at  daylight  on  the  -till,  every  available  wagon  to 
Acworth,  and  (instead  of  the  utterly  impractical  one  of  put- 
ting a  mountain  in  a  deep  cut)  ordered  Gen.  Stewart  with  his 
three  divisions  to  Allatoona  in  all  haste.  Loi'ing  could  have 
reached  Allatoona  Ijy  11  (i.in.  on  f/ic  J^th^  and  the  others  soon 
after.     The  battle  would  have  been  fought  on  the  -tth,  and  be- 


272  Two  Wans. 

fore  the  Mri'i\al  <»t'  C'oi'sf  at  nii(lnif>;lit.  No!  for  the  want  of  in- 
formation, this  was  not  to  he. 

And  so  1  went  all  alone  into  the  hind  oe(U])ie<l  hy  the  enemy, 
and  (xen.  Hood  moved  farther  and  farther  away,  leaving;  me  iso- 
lated beyond  all  support  or  assistanee. 

Cxen.  Hood  eould  not  have  had  a  o;ood  knowled<re  of  the  topog- 
raphy of  the  country,  because  when  my  dispatch  to  Stewart — 
that  I  would  withdraw  from  Allatoona  to  avoid  beinir  shut  u])  in 
a  CI//  de  .sv/r — was  received  Hood  tells  Stewart  that  he  does  not 
understand  ''how  Gen.  French  could  be  cut  off.  as  he  should 
have  moved  directly  away  from  the  i-ailroad  to  the  west."  (Page 
791,  War  Records,  Vol.  31>.)  I  am  (piite  sure  (ien.  Armstrong, 
when  (at  i>  a.m.)  he  sent  me  his  dispatch,  also  sent  a  copy  of  it 
to  Gen.  Stewart  or  Hood,  because  Hood  at  1:15  p.m.  tells  Arm- 
strong he  "nmst  prevent  my  being  surprised,  and  enable  me  to 
get  out  safely." 

I  will  state  here  again  that  it  was  about  noon  on  the  -Ith,  when 
some  citizens,  living  on  the  line  of  the  railroad  above,  remarked 
that  we  ''could  not  tear  up  the  track  to  Allatoona,  because  that 
place  was  fortified  and  garrisoned,  and  that  it  was  a  depot  for 
supplies."  Therefore  it  was  that  (ien.  Stew^art  and  myself,  in 
discussing  the  order,  were  convinced  that  Hood  did  not  know  the 
condition  of  affairs  at  Allatoona,  and  at  my  request  he  gave  me 
some  additional  artillery;  and  so  thei-e  is  ample  evidence  that 
Hood  had  no  knowledge  that  the  enemy  occupied  the  Allatoona 
Pass. 

Gen.  Hood  was  indeed  a  brave  man,  if  not  a  courageous  one, 
and  he  couched  his  lance  at  tiie  enemy  wherever  he  met  him, 
whether  in  the  guise  of  a  windmill  or  the  helmet  of  Mambrino; 
but  at  last,  in  after  days,  he  went  over  to  the  enemy,  for  on  i)age 
257  of  his  volume  he  writes:  ''Gen.  Corse  won  my  admiration 
by  his  gallant  resistance,  and  not  without  reason  the  Fedei-al 
commander  complimented  this  officer,  through  a  general  order, 
for  his  handsome  c(mduct  in  the  defense  of  Allatoona  ! " 

It  is  a  pertinent  (juestion  to  ask  from  what  source  Gen.  Hood 
derived  his  information.  If  he  had  read  Gen.  Corse's  report, 
he  would  have  discovered  that  his  men  would  not  expose  them- 
selves enougii  to  lire  over  tiie  parapet,  and  that  they  merely 
"held  out"'  foi-  the  hoiuly  promised  assistance,  etc.,  as  I  have 
narrated.      Is  it  pleasing  to  learn  from  his  pen  his  rapturous 


Col.  Clank  //.  Weaver.  273 

love  for  the  Fcdcnils  and  (•ontciui)!  foi'  ihc  ( 'oiifcderates  and  liis 
standard  of  admiration ?  Mino  is  dillVrent;  and  I  am  free  to 
state  that  it  was  the  Confederates  with  whom  I  was  present,  who 

by  their  death, 

.•'l)y  their  iminful  service, 
The  extreme  danger,  and  the  drops  of  IjJood 
Shed," 

by  their  g^allautry  and  perseverance  won  my  admiration.  And 
this  is  no  reflection  on  the  enemy  they  met.  Hood's  want  of 
admiration  for  the  soldiers  he  commanded  in  1864  and  1865  is 
the  hiofhest  meed  to  their  intelligence. 

Perhaps  it  was  natural,  in  after  years,  that  (Jen.  Hood  should 
select'  some  Federal  officer  on  whom  to  bestow  his  admiration, 
and  when  they  passed  in  review  before  him  (Ten,  Corse  was 
awarded  this  honor.  T  trow  he  must  have  fortjotten  Col.  Clark 
K.  AVeaver,  U.  S.  A. 

Seven  days  after  Allatoona,  Gen.  Hood  with  his  entire  army 
was  at  Resaca.  It  was  orarrisoned  by  about  live  hundred  men 
commanded  hy  Col.  Weaver.  Hood  summoned  Weaver  to  sur- 
render in  unmistakable  terms,  ending  as  follows: 

If  the  ])hice  is  carried  by  assault,  no  prisoners  will  be  taken. 
Most  respectfully,  your  obe.lient  servant, 

J.  B.  Hood,  (icneraJ. 

To  this  Col.  Weaver  replied: 

In  my  opini(jn  I  can  hold  this  post.     If  you  want  it,  come  and  take  it. 

Clark  R.  Weavek,  Coni'd'g  Officer. 
(See  Sherman's  •'IMemoirs,"  Vol.  II..  page  155.) 

Nevertheless,  on  page  257,  ''Advance  and  Retreat, "  Hood 
writes,  "Cen.  Corse  won  my  admiration  by  his  gallant  resist- 
ance," etc.,  and  further  on — page  326  of  his  l)ook — he  writes, 
"The  information  I  received  that  the  enemy  was  moving  to  cut 
me  oti'  proved  to  be  false,"  which  is  refuted  ])y  the  arrival  of  re- 
enforcements,  as  I  have  stated,  and  Sherman's  dispatches  that  I 
have  given. 

It  is  singular  that  so  many  laudatory  statements  should  have 
l)een  made  by  Gen.  J.  M.  Corse  and  admirers  a})out  the  battle 
of  Allatoona.  which  were  not  necessary  to  sustain  his  character 
as  a  soldier. 

I  have  before  me  a  t)()ok  of  nearly  tive  hundred  pages,  written 
18 


*274  Two  Wars. 

))V  F.  Y.  Hedley.  adjutant  of  the  'riiirty-Sccond  Illinois  Keofi- 
ment,  which  is  entitled  '"Fen  Pictures  of  Evervchiy  Life  in  Gen. 
Sherman's  Army,  from  Atlanta  to  the  Close  of  the  War."  This 
includes  the  l)attle  of  Allatoona,  and  as  he  makes  the  story  to 
))e  palatal)lc  to  the  tastes  of  those  who  enjoy  the  marvelous,  at 
the  expense  of  the  Confederate  soldiers  and  myself,  I  feel  ol)liged 
to  expose  more  of  the  legerdemain  used  to  deceive  the  public  ))y 
juofirlinir  tricks. 

I  will  state  that  on  pao^e  2r.»  there  is  a  facsimile  of  my  sum- 
mons to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  garrison  to  surrender.  It 
was  sent,  as  I  have  stated,  because  it  was  then  supposed  that  the 
garrison  was  small  in  numbers.     It  reads: 

Akoinl)  Allatoona,  October  5.  8:t5  a.m.,  1864. 

Coininanding  Officer  V.  S.  Forces,  Allatoonsi: 

Sir:  I  have  placed  the  forces  under  1x13'  command  in  snch  positions  that 
you  are  surrounded:  and  to  avoid  a  needless  etTusion  of  blood,  I  call  on 
you  to  surrender  your  forces  at  once,  and  unconditionally.  Five  minutes 
will  be  allowed  you  to  decide.  Should  you  accede  to  this,  you  will  l)e 
treated  in  the  most  honorable  manner  as  prisoners  of  w  ar. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  very  respectfullj'  yours. 

S.  G.  French, 
Xfdjor  (hncrdl  Cohimanding  Forces  (J.  S. 

On  the  same  leaf  is  a  facsimile  of  (ien.  Corse's  reply  to  my 

note,  and  it  reads: 

IIeaix^iartkus  FoiHTH  Division.  | 

Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  8:30  a.m.,  Octobers,  18G4.  \ 

Maj.  Gen.  G.  S.  French,  C.  S.  A.: 

Your  communication  demanding  surrender  of  my  command  I  acknowl- 
edge receipt  of,  and  resi)ectfully  reply  that  we  are  pre])ared  for  the  "need 
less  effusion  of  l)lood  "  whenever  it  is  agreeal)le  to  you. 
I  am  very  I'espectfullj',  your  obedient  .servant. 

John  M.  Corse, 
.Major  (ieneral  ConinKoidifKj  Forces  U.  S. 

Let  us  investigate  this  matter. 

The  facsimile  of  my  letter  is  true,  no  doulit  about  thai :  but  we 
have  also  the  facsimile  of  the  reply  made  by  Corse  which  was 
sent  me,  and  by  me  never  received;  and  in  the  face  of  that  Corse 
"declared  he  never  knew'  that  I  did  not  receive  it,  or  that  it  was 
not  delivered  to  Maj.  Sanders,  the  ])earer  of  the  Hag  of  truce." 
until  so  informed  by  Joseph  M.  Brown,  whose  guest  he  was  when 
he  came  to  Atlanta  with  the  arti.st  De  Thulstrup  to  have  the  bat- 


Aftkr  TiVKSTY  Years.  275 

tic  painted ;  and  he  t'liiihcr  told  liini:  ''  I  took  tin?  note  (French's) 
and  read  it.  It  made  me  mad,  Wecause  from  what  I  coidd  see  of 
his  forces,  and  what  I  knew  of  mine,  1  believed  that  I  had  about 
as  big  a  force  as  he  ;  hence  considered  the  summons  a  superflii- 
ous  piece  of  ])ravad().  I  sat  down  on  a  loo^,  and  pullino^  my  note- 
book out  of  my  pocket,  Avrote  the  reply  a(;ross  the  face  of  one 
of  the  pages,  which  I  tore  out  and  handed  to  my  staff  officer  with 
instructions  to  take  it  back  to  the  ])earer  of  the  summons.'" 

Not  finding  Maj.  Sanders,  of  course  he  returned  in  a  few 
minutes  and  gave  Corse  the  note. 

Next  A\'illiam  Ludlow  (now  a  general  in  the  Ignited  States 
army),  in  his  address  to  the  Michigan  Commandery,  Loyal 
Legion,  at  Detroit,  on  April  ^,  1891  (page  20),  says:  "Corse 
did  reply;  he  WTote  his  answer  on  the  top  of  a  neighboring 
stump."' 

Then  Hedley  (page  223)  says  of  Corse:  "His  every  pound  of 
flesh  and  l)lood  was  that  of  a  hero:  his  eye  flashed  as  if  lighted 
with  a  Promethean  s])ark;  and  his  chest  swelled  with  angry  de- 
fiance to  the  hideous  threat  implied  in  the  summons  to  surren- 
der! '  Capt.  Flint,'  said  he,  'answer  this!'  so  Capt.  Flint 
seated  himself  upon  a  tree  stump  and  wrote  the  reply." 

I  care  not  who  wrote  the  reply  to  my  note;  I  only  desire  to 
know  who  kept  it  concealed  for  over  twenty  years,  and  then  pro- 
duced it,  and,  together  with  mine,  authoritatively  gave  them  to 
Hedley  to  photograph  and  publish  side  by  side. 

If  Corse  had  it  hid  aAvay,  or  knew  Avhere  it  was,  then  he  must 
have  been  mistaken  when  he  declared  to  Joseph  M.  Brown  that 
he  never  knew  that  I  had  not  received  it.  Besides,  that  I  re- 
ceived no  reply  was  reported  officially  and  well  known. 

As  regards  the  "hideous  threat  implied"'  in  my  note,  it  has 
been  left  to  the  hero  of  AUatooua  to  discover  it  for  the  first  time, 
although  the  like  and  similar  expressions  have  been  used  by 
many  commanders  in  the  years  long  past,  and  escaped  the  crit- 
ical acumen  of  those  to  whom  they  were  sent  to  find  an  implied 
threat  therein. 

No  one  except  Ludlow,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  has  ever  pub- 
lished that  Maj.  Sanders  was  fired  on  by  Corse's  soldiers  when 
approaching  vmder  a  fiag  of  truce.  I  made  it  known  on  an  in- 
closure  in  my  official  report. 

Adjutant  Hedle}^  says  "the  heroic  defense  of  AUatooua  is  al- 


276  Tiro  Wabs. 

most  .18  famous  as  tlio  'cliar<re  of  the  Li^ht  Brio^ade.'  and  far 
more  momentous  in  its  results." 

There  was  nothing  momentous  penclinuf  on  it.  It  was  Hood's 
iofnorauce  of  the  enemy's  position  that  caused  the  battle;  it  should 
never  have  been  made.  We  had  nothino:  to  gain;  we  would 
not  remain  there,  nor  had  I  any  means  to  carry  stores  away  with 
me.  It  is  well  known  what  Hood  ordered  us  to  do:  "till  up  the 
Allatoona  cut,  and  t)ni-n  the  bridge  oven-  the  Ktowah  ri\('i'."  and 
join  him  on  the  ()lh. 

I  here  repeat  that  the  one  million  rations  of  bread  in  Alla- 
toona were  not  a  factor  in  Sherman's  march  to  Savannah.  He 
refused  to  repair  the  railroad  we  had  destroyed,  and  sent  the  ra- 
tions north  of  the  Etowah.  Subsequently,  however,  he  did  put 
the  road  in  condition  so  as  to  send  the  sick  and  wounded,  etc., 
north  from  Atlanta.  The  war  records  show  he  had  in  Atlanta 
8,000,000  rations  and  eight  thousand  beeves.  For  65,000  men 
eighteen  days  were  required  1,170,000  rations.  On  the  march 
the  most  difficult  problem  Sherman  had  to  solve  was  '/r/taf  to  do 
irith  Ji/x  snperahundant  Tatlons. 

Let  us  examine  Hedley  on  this  question.  He  writes,  tirst : 
The  regular  commissaries  and  quartermasters  foraged  for  the 
regular  commands  off  the  country;  but  "under  the  color  of  the 
license  given  l)y  Sherman's  orders  r/vry  regiment  in  the  army 
sent  out  an  independent  foraging  party,  whose  duty  it  was  to  see 
that  its  particular  command  was  f  urnishe<l  with  all  the  delicacies 
the  country  afforded.  Tliese  men  were  the  most  venturesome 
in  the  army  ;"  they  "took  great  risks  and  experienced  startling 
adventures.  ...  If  the  negroes  told  the  bummers  stories  of 
cruelty  they  had  suffered,  or  hostility  to  the  Union,  etc.,  the  in- 
jury was  avenged  l)y  the  torch."  So  on  the  twaddle  of  negroes 
these  bummers,  acting  as  judges,  without  appeal,  executed  their 
own  sentences. 

The  rehearsal  of  these  scenes  afforded  amusement  in  Wash- 
ington, and  "^Marching  through  (leorgia"  is  still  a  favorite 
hymn  to  the  sanctimonious  people  \\  ho  dcliglil  in  citiclty  to  in- 
nocent women  and  little  children. 

"The  ])unnner  was  a  wily  diplomat  and  learned  all  that  was 
to  be  known  of  the  neighbor  farther  down  llie  road  whom  he  ex- 
pected to  raid  the  next  day.  .  .  .  The  buinmer  drew  a  line  be- 
tween the  rich  and  the  poor." 


TlIK  BlMMKR.  Til 

Speakinor  of  one  liininiu'r.  as  an  oxaiiiplc  of  otliers,  ho  writes: 
'"Ahout  midniirlit  his  voice  was  heard  aroiisiiifr  the  camp;  he 
had  six  animals,  horses  and  mules,  strmijcr  together  with  a  mot- 
ley improvised  harness  made  of  odds  and  ends.  .  .  .  He  bestrode 
one  of  the  wheelers,  and  swayed  in  the  saddle  from  the  etiects 
of  apple-jack;  his  wagon  was  an  immense  box  of  the  Tennes- 
see pattern,  high  at  each  cud.  low  in  the  middle,  similar  to  an 
old  Dutch  galiot,  loaded  to  the  guards  with  the  choicest  of 
wines  and  liquors;  and  by  chance  there  was  in  the  cargo  a  box  of 
glass  goblets.  .  .  .  Samples  of  the  wines  were  sent  to  corps 
headquarters,  pronounced  excellent,  with  the  intimation  that  a 
further  supply  would  be  acceptable,  etc.,''  and  so  on  the  chapter 
reads  to  the  end. 

The  bummers  generally  oltliged  the  negroes  to  imi)r<)vi8e 
teams,  and  in  wagons  brought  their  stealings  into  camp.  "'  They 
ranged  over  a  section  between  sixty  to  eighty  miles  in  breadth." 
(Page  272.)  The  writer  pursues  a  middle  line  :  he  tells  us  nothing 
about  the  distress  of  the  thousands  of  women  and  children  left 
homeless  by  these  cruel  wretches,  nor  does  he  see  any  of  watches, 
plate,  and  jewelry  stolen  ;  and  now^  here  we  are,  in  the  last  years 
of  the  century,  told  ])y  the  *■'  Grand  Army  of  the  Repul)lic''  that 
we  must  not  tell  any  of  these  matters  to  our  children  in  our 
school  histories. 

I  am  now  al)out  to  close  my  accoimt  of  this  battle  and  the 
false  statements  regarding  it.  I  have  written  it  because  of  Gen. 
Corse's  willfull}^  making  an  erroneous  statement  toward  the  close 
of  his  report  about  driving  the  division  away,  and  l)ecause  of  his 
(so-called)  famous  dispatch,  the  gospel  hymn,  and  the  shouts  of 
victory,  congratulatory  orders  and  admiration  parties ;  because 
of  Hood's  statement  al)Out  orders  given  me — all  of  which  have 
thrown  a  glamour  over  the  conflict,  making  things  seem  to  be 
what  they  were  not. 

I  have  endeavored  to  dispel  the  illusion,  remove  the  glamour. 
uncover  the  hidden  truth  to  him  who  will  seek  it. 

The  "holding  on"  power  of  the  Federal  soldier  in  this  ])attle 
was  remarkable,  and  his  faith  connnenda])le.  From  11  a.m.  to 
near  the  close  of  day  they  were  pent  up  inside  and  around  in  the 
ditch  of  a  small  fort  in  such  numbers  that  they  lay  on  one  an- 
other, sat  on  each  other,  stood  on  others  dead  or  alive,  praying 
for  relief.     There  they  stayed  till,  in  the  silence  of  the  gloam- 


278  Two  ]Vai{S. 

iu^,  they  ventured  out  nnd  "■Imd  the  :idvantao:e  of  the  enemy  and 
maintained  it"-  witliout  opposition,  t'oi-  the  enemy  had  htno- 
been  irone  a  way  I 

In  what  I  have  written  respecting  this  battle  1  ha\('  made  no 
charge  against  the  Tnion  sohlier  of  the  want  of  courage  or  the 
desire  to  surrender. 

It  is  they  who  furnish  tlie  CNidence  of  their  (Ustress.  i-efusal  to 
man  the  parapets,  and  desire  to  surrender  un(k'i'  tlie  h)ng  delay 
and  disappointments  of  the  so-often-promised  aid.  Amidst  all 
their  environments,  let  none  condemn  them  without  cause. 


The  Soldiers'  Grave. 

15v  joseph  m.  brown. 

[Ill  AlhitooiKi  I'ass.  by  the  Western  and  Atlantic  railroad,  is  the  grave  ot! 
an  unknown  soldier  who  fell  in  the  battle  there  October  o,  1864.] 

In  the  railroad  cut  there's  a  lonely  grave 
Which  the  trackmen  hold  sacred  to  care: 

They  have  piled  round  it  stones,  and  for  it  they  sa\'e 
Every  ilower,  when  their  task  calls  them  there. 

Away  from  the  home  of  his  love, 

Away  from  his  sweetheart  or  wife, 
Away  from  his  mother,  whose  prayers  went  above. 

He  gave  for  his  country  his  life. 

We  know  not  if.  wearing  the  blue,  he  came 
'Nralh  the  "bright,  starry  banner"  arrayetl, 

And.  dying,  that  it  o'er  the  mountains  of  fame 
Might  forever  in  triuiii])h  wave  prayed: 

Or  we  know  not  if,  'nealh  the  "  l)onnie  liliie  Hag," 
He  rushed  forth,  his  coiuitry's  defender. 

Valiant,  smote  those  who  her  cause  dow  ii  would  drag. 
And  only  to  death  did  surrender. 

'I'hat  (ioii  only  knows:  and  so  in  his  hand 

Let  the  secret  unfathometl  e'er  rest: 
But  this  we  know,  that  he  died  for  his  land, 

.Anil  tlie  tianncr  he  thought  was  the  best. 

Heav'n  pity  the  dear  ones  who  jirayed  liis  return, 
Heav'n  bless  them,  and  shield  them  from  woes, 
Heav'n  grant  o'er  his  grave  to  melt  anger  stern. 
And  make  brothers  of  tho -i-e  who  were  foes! 


JOSKril    M.    r.KOWN. 


''To  AN  (\\K.\on\\  Ilhi.'o."  281 

'I'lIK    I.ONK    (ilJAVK. 

I'.v  I'Ai  1.  i»i;kssi:i{. 

["Tlio  Lone  (Jnivc"  is  situated  on  \\m  Western  and  Atlantic  railroad 
between  t'hattanoofra.  Tcnn.,  and  Atlanta,  (4a.  A  plain  Itoard  marked 
the  resting  place  of  a  soldier.  Name  ■  unknown. '"  None  could  tell 
whether  he  had  been  a  Fedeial  or  Confederate.  The  .section  hands,  when 
laying  the  track,  discovered  the  grave,  sodiled  it  over  beautifully,  and 
placed  a  headstone  over  it  bearing  the  above  inscri])tion.  The  traveler's 
attention  is  always  called  to  this  spot,  and  the  ti-aiiis  "slow  up"  in  order 
to  give  all  an  opportunity  to  .see  it.  Let  this  Ije  an  olive  i)ranch  to  the 
North  and  South  to  be  again  a  united  people. — At  riioK.  | 

A  story  I  am  going  to  tell  of  a  grave 

In  the  South  where  a  brave  soldier  fell. 
For  his  cause  he  now^  sleeps  by  the  side  of  a  track — 

What  his  colors  none  able  to  tell. 
A  jjlain.  simple  board,  rudely  carved,  that  was  all 

That  was  left  to  remind  one  of  that  sai-red  spot. 
The  words,  as  we  traced  them,  were  sim})le  enough: 

"A  soldier  slee))S  here  :  ()  !  forget  me  not." 

C/ioi'us. — The  lone  grave  is  there  by  the  side  of  the  track: 
It  contains  a  wanderer  who  never  came  back  : 
And  when  he  appears  on  the  great  judgment  day. 
Our  Father'll  not  ask:  "Was  your  suit  blue  or  gray  ? " 

There's  a  mother  that  sits  by  a  firesitle  to-night. 

She  is  thinking  of  days  long  gone  by  : 
And  she  pictures  "a  loved  one  who  went  to  the  war. 

But  returned  not,"  she  says  with  a  sigh. 
If  the  mother  could  know  that  her  boy  calmly  sleeps. 

Undisturl)ed  by  the  march  or  the  progress  of  time. 
What  feelings  would  haunt  her.  what  thoughts  would  she  have. 

Sobs,  tears,  and  heartaches,  what  sadness  sublime! 

Jotsepli  ]M.  lirowii,  who  wti.s  for  mauy  years  eii<2:ti<rc(l  in  col- 
lecting facts  relatino:  to  this  battle,  and  which  he  privately  pub- 
lished some  years  a^o,  states  that  the  remains  of  Col,  W.  H. 
Clark,  of  Mississippi,  rest  in  this  grave.  He  fell,  w  ith  the  col- 
ors of  his  regiment  in  his  hands,  leading  his  men  in  the  attack. 
That  is  an  error. 

These  now  deserved  tributes  to  a  brave  soldier  were  made  "To 
an  I' n known  Hero."  For  it  is  not  known  whether  he  was  in 
the  United  States  or  Confederate  service.  As  the  last  resting 
place  of  a  man  who  gave  his  life  for  his  country,  it  was  regard- 
ed a  sacred  spot,  and  it  is  hoped  it  will  tihvjiys  be  reverently 


IIIK    LOXK    GKAVK. 


SrMMLxa  Up.  28a 

ciired  for  out  of  n'specl  to  the  dead.      It   is  an   honored  irnive. 
Millions  of  travelers  pass  by  and  do  it  i-everence. 
And  now,  in  conclusion,  I  have  shown  : 

1.  That  the  reniarkahle  orders  I  received  from  (Jen.  Hood 
were  given  before  he  had  any  knowledge  of  there  ])eing  a  gar- 
rison at  Allatoona  :  and  that  his  later  statements  may  be  er- 
roneous. 

2.  That  1  was  not  aware  that  the  garrison  in  the  fortress  had 
been  reenforced  (two  hours  before  my  arrival)  by  Gen.  Corse 
and  troops,  when  I  summoned  the  commander  to  surrender  ;  and 
that  I  never  received  any  reply  to  my  sununons. 

3.  That  when  the  outer  line  of  the  fortress  was  gained,  and 
Gen.  Corse  with  all  his  troops  west  of  the  railroad  were  driven 
into  the  "slaughter  pen,"  the  battle  was  lost  to  him  ;  his  troops 
would  not  face  their  assailants;  would  have  surrendered,  only 
their  officers  implored  them  to  "hold  out"  longer,  as  relief  was 
momentarily  expected  to  end  "the  prolonged  strain  of  that  mor- 
tal day." 

4.  That  when  I  received  the  dispatch  from  Gen.  Armstrong 
informing  me  that  the  advance  infantry  of  Sherman's  army  from 
Atlanta  had  passed  Gen.  Hood  at  Lost  Mountain,  and  were  at  Big 
Shanty,  I  deemed  it  ])est  to  forego  the  gratification  of  a  complete 
victory  for  myself  and  troops,  which,  if  won,  must  still  result 
in  further  tight  (by  my  exhausted  troops)  with  the  rccnforce- 
ments  hourly  expected.  And  so  I  would  not  yield  to  the  impor- 
tunity of  both  officers  and  men,  who  were  mad,  and  wanted,  also, 
to  "hold  on"  until  they  captured  the  entire  works.  1  weighed 
their  promises  to  capture  the  last  work  when  annnunition  was 
obtained  with  the  after  probable  consequences,  and  pointed  them 
out.  and  adhered  to  my  decision  ;  deeming  it  best  for  the  "Con- 
federate cause''  not  to  lose  more  men  for  the  mere  eclat  of  a  vic- 
tory of  doul/tftd  compensating  utility.  We  could  not  remain  an 
hour  if  the  place  were  taken. 

5.  Considering  the  numl)er  of  urgent  dispatches  that  Sherujan 
sent  to  his  general  officers  to  take  possession  of  the  road  over 
which  I  passed  (on  the  r)th  and  (ith)  on  my  way  to  New  Hope 
Church,  it  is  left  for  them  to  account  for  permitting  the  Con- 
federates to  pass  l)y  them  without  any  serious  skirmishing,  be- 
cause dispatch  No.  1."),  received  by  Gen.  Stanley  at  2:30  p.m.  on 
the  5th  (when  I  was  at  Allatoona),  gave  him  seventeen  hours  to 


284  Two  Wal'S. 

occupy  and  hold  the  Sand  Town  road,  as  ordered,  before  I  moved 
over  it  to  join  Hood  at  New  IIo])e  Cliun-h. 

Lastly.  Gen  Corse's  "'fainous"  (lis[)ateli,  ori<rinally,  '"l  can 
lick  all  h — 1  yet,""  has  not  the  merit  of  the  excitement  or  inspira- 
tion of  the  ])attlelield.  It  loses  its  siirniticance  entii'ely  for  the 
want  of  applicahility.  llehad  '"  whip})ed*"  no  one;  hiscomiiiand 
was  now  doiil)le(l  in  numbers:  no  enemy  was  within  twenty 
miles  of  him;  an  entire  day  (lackiiiir  an  hour)  had  passed  since 
the  last  shot  was  tired,  wiien  he  deliberately  and  thouo-htfully 
prepared  that  dispatch,  perhaps  to  divert  attention  from  the  real, 
actual  occurrences  of  the  battle  the  day  pi-evious  and  tickle  the 
public  ear. 

The  testimony  of  hundreds  of  witnesses  now  living  has  Ijeen 
I'eon'dtd  to  sulistantiate  what  1  have  written.  For  the  Union 
soldier  in  this  battle  I  have  tried  to 

nothing  oxtcniiate. 
Nor  set  down  aught  in  malice, 

and  in  after  years,  I  trust,  to  the  noljle  Confederates  who  fouofht 
this  battle  the  impartial  historian  will 

Give  them  tin-  honors  they  won  in  llic  strife. 
Give  them  tin-  lanrels  thev  lost  with  iheir  life. 


CHiCKA:MArGA,  (iA..  April  12.  1S97. 
Gen.  S,  (J.  French,  I'ensaoola,  Fla. 

Mil  Dear  Geui  ral :  'l"he  manuscript  history  of  the  hattle  of  Allatoona 
w  hifh  you  recently  sent  me  has  been  read  over  twice,  very  carefully.  It 
was  e.xceedingly  interesting  to  me.  and  must  be  correct  in  every  particular. 
Those  facts  and  circumstances  which  fell  within  my  personal  knowledge 
are  stated  correctly,  according  to  my  recollections  :  and  your  unswerving 
fidelity  to  the  trnth  and  careful  attention  to  details  are  well  remembered. 
Moi'covcr,  the  account  given  of  the  conduct  of  your  troops  is  just  what 
every  one  who  Icnew  them,  as  I  did,  would  expect  of  ("ockrell's  Missouri- 
ans,  of  Young's  (Factor's)  Texans,  of  Sears's  MissLssippians,  and  of  Cole- 
man'sNorth  Carolinians.  Dnyoii  not  nwcil  to  these  men  as  well  as  toyoiir- 
.self  and  the  truth  of  liistory  to  publish  this  account  of  that  battle'.'  I  hope 
you  will  do  so,  and  would  suggest,  in  the  event  you  do,  that  the  route  lakcn 
by  Sears  to  reach  the  nortli  side  and  rear  of  the  Federal  i)osition,  and  the 
jjositioiis  of  your  three  brigades,  be  indicated  on  tlie  to])ographical  map 
(page  :};}'.)).  Vei-y  sincerely  yours. 

Alex  P.  Stkwaht. 


(iiAi»ri:ii  xvii. 

Ketiini  troni  Allatooiia- HooiTs  Deport lucnt — Cross  the  Coosa  River — 
Devastation  around  Home — Koine  Burne<l--(Tarrison  of  Kesaca  Refuses 
to  Surrender — Capture  of  tlie  Seventeenth  Iowa  Ketiiment  at  Tilton — 
Dalton  Taken — Dug  Gap— Dinner  of  Roasting  Kars—Sup])er— Captured 
Officers  are  Jolly  (iood  Fellows — Gadsden — Encampment  at  Mrs.  San- 
som's — Her  Daughter  a  Guide  for  Gen.  Forrest  when  He  Captured  Gen. 
Streight — Cross  the  Black  Warrior  River  and  Sand  Mountains — Deca- 
tur— Some  Fighting  at  Decatur — Gen.  Beauregard  with  Hood — Beauti- 
ful Valley  of  the  Tennessee  made  Desolate  l\y  War — Tuscumbia — Di-eary 
March  to  Columbia.  Rain  and  Snow — Stewart's  and  Cheatham's  Corps 
Cross  Duck  River  en  Roulr  to  Spring  Hill— Hood  Slept — Schotield 
Passed  Bj' — Pursue  Schotield  to  Franklin — Battle  of  Franklin— Inci- 
dents— Remarkable  Order  for  a  Second  Assault  at  Night — Losses  in  My 
Two  Brigades — Exchange  of  Pi'isoners  Stopped. 

rr^HE  battle  of  Allatoona  having  been  foitglit  as  I  have  de- 
J-  scribed  it,  the  blockhouse  at  Allatoona  creek  with  a  garri- 
son of  11(1  men  captured,  we  inarched  on  toward  New  Hope 
Church,  and  near  midnight  encamped  at  the  residence  of  Dr. 
Smith,  in  the  midst  of  an  awful  rainstorm,  and  within  three 
miles  of  Federal  forces. 

October  6.  1864.  The  rain  is  still  falling  in  torrents,  and  it  continued 
until  we  reached  New  Hope  Church  and  joined  the  other  two  divisions. 
When  I  called  at  headquarters.  Hood  reminded  me  of  a  disheartened 
man.  His  countenance  was  sad  and  his  voice  doleful.  He  received  me 
with  a  melancholy  air,  and  asked  no  questions;  did  not  refer  to  the  battle, 
"told  me  where  iny  corps  was,  and  said  he  would  leave  next  day."  He 
seemed  much  depressed  in  spirits.  Perhaps  he  experienced  a  feeling  of 
remorse  that  his  want  of  information  had  induced  him  to  send  me  to  burn 
the  Etowah  bridge,  stopping  an  hour  or  two  en  route  at  the  Allatoona  cut, 
"till  it  up  and  obtain  information."    Encamped  on  Pumpkinvine  creek. 

Till.  Marched  early  this  morning  to  Van  Wirt,  b}'  a  road  leading  along 
a  high  ridge.     Was  invited  to  the  house  of  Dr.  Pearce  for  the  night. 

8.h.  Started  at  dawn  and  marched  to  Cedartown,  and  encamped  near 
there. 

9th.  Remained  in  cani])  till  12  M.  Li'ft  the  sick  and  lame-footed  men 
with  the  baggage  wagons  ti)  move  on  to  .1.  and  took  up  the  line  of  march 
from  .  .  .  toward  Rome.  Struck  the  road  over  which  we  marched  May 
17,  last.  Encamped  at  (.Cunningham's,  on  the  I'oad  from  Cave  Springs  to 
Rome.  Gen.  Beauregaid  ari-ivt'd  at  Cave  Springs:  he  was  heartily  cheered 
by  Cheatham's  Corps. 


286  Two  Wabs. 

lOth.  Moved  by  a  wood  road  to  near  a  ferrj"^  over  the  Coosa  river. 
Arrived  there  at  noon,  but  could  not  cross  on  the  pontoon  until  the  corps 
of  Hardee  had  passed  over.  When  my  division  was  across  we  marcht>d 
about  three  miles  to  Kol)inson's,  at  the  gorge  of  the  Texas  Valley  roail. 
All  over  the  country  within  a  radius  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  of  Rome  the 
citizens  have  been  robbed  by  the  enemy  of  everything.  Bureaus  broken, 
women's  clothing  torn  to  pieces,  children  left  in  rags,  mirrors  l)roken, 
books  torn,  feather  l)eds  emptied  in  the  road,  stock  driven  ofl":  and  no  ef- 
fort left  untried  to  distress  the  families. 

On  the  8th  of  this  month  Gen.  John  M.  Corse,  from  Carlersville, 
near  here,  wrote  Gen.  Sherman  that  he  could  not  now  burn  or  al)anilon 
Rome  i)ecause  there  were  one  thousand  four  hundred  sick  there.  (War 
Records,  page  150,  Vol.  39,  Part  III.)  I  mention  this  to  show  that  it  was 
saved  for  a  while  but  afterwards  destroyed. 

•  llth.     This  morning  we  crossed  into  Texas  Valley,  and  marched    to 
Amuch  post  office,  where  we  encamped. 

12th.  Started  this  morning  at  4  a.m..  and  after  a  tedious  march  ail 
daj'  struck  the  railroad  one  mile  above  Resaca.  Gen.  S.  D.  Lee  took  a  po 
sition  in  front  of  the  works  at  Resaca.  It  was  garrisoned  l)y  ti\e  hundred 
men.  Hood  summoned  the  garrison  to  surrender.  It  refused  to  do  so. 
Here  Hood  showed  his  good  sense  not  to  make  the  attack  even  with 
twenty  thousand  men.  We  did  not  want  the  place  nor  the  garrison,  and 
had  no  men  to  spare  or  lose  in  a  useless  fight.  Allatoona  Avas  a  warning 
to  him.  Stewart's  Corps  moved  up  the  raili'oad  about  three  and  a  half 
miles,  and  captui-ed  a  blockhouse  and  a  construction  camp,  and  burned 
an  immense  amount  of  lumber  There  was  one  company  captured  in  the 
blockhouse,  which,  however,  was  a  temporary  structure  of  hewn  timber. 
Worked  all  night  destroying  railroad. 

13th.  Moved  my  division  up  the  railroatl.  and  surrounded  a  very  large 
and  strong  blockhouse  at  Tilton.  It  was  garrisoned  by  the  Seventeenth 
Iowa  Regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Archer.  He  refused  to  surrender. 
As  it  was,  from  its  oaken  Avails,  impregnable  to  field  artillery,  it  resisted 
a  long  time.  Gen.  Stewart,  hearing  the  firing,  came  on  the  field  and  also 
called  on  the  commander  to  surrender.  Again  he  declined.  I  hail  placed 
a  field  i)attery  in  position,  and  directing  shells  to  be  fired  at  the  narrow 
loopholes,  we  succeeded  in  driving  shells  through  them,  which,  exploding 
inside,  filled  the  structure  with  a  dense,  sutTocating  smoke,  and  soon  the 
white  HagAvas  Avaved.  Seventy  shells  Avere  fired.  The  garrison  consisted 
of  ilir(!e  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Col.  Archer,  not  Ix'ing  well.  Avas  i)a- 
roled.  The  plundering  of  the  stores,  especially  the  sutler's,  Avas  the  Avork 
of  a  feAv  minutes,  and  our  hungr}'  men  obtained  some  articles  not  found  in 
the  Confederate  commissary  (k^partment.  The  sutler  came  to  me  Avitli  iiis 
books  and  begged  me  to  keep  them  for  him,  as  he  had  no  other  evidence 
of  Avhat  Avas  due  him  from  the  regiment.  I  introduced  him  to  my  (juar- 
termastcr,  and  asked  him  to  kee])  them  for  the  sutler.  To  add  to  the 
(piick  confusion,  Loring's  division  was  passing  by  at  the  time  and  tried  to 
obtain  .some  of  the  sutler's  stores.  Burned  everything  l)Ut  the  transpor- 
tation, arms,  stores,  etc.,  and  then  moved  on  to  Dalton,      1  liad  now  four 


Miss  Emma  Sansom.  287 

humlred  ami  lifty  prisoners.  Daltim  was  capluri'd  liy  ( 'licalluuii.  It  was 
garrisoned  Ijy  negro  troops. 

14th.  My  division  became  the  rear  ifiianl.  We  crossed  the  mountain 
at  Dug  flaj)  and  encamped  near  Vilianow.  When  I  cros.sed  the  mountain 
rid^e  I  found  a  large  tield  of  corn  by  the  roadside.  The  roastinj^  ears 
were  tine.  I  halted  the  division;  called  the  l)rigade  commanders,  and 
gave  them  half  an  hour  to  get  dinner  out  of  the  cornfield.  Wonderfully 
quick  were  the  tires  made,  and  the  corn  roasted  and  fried.  The  prison- 
ers and  men  dined  indiscriminately.  The  Yankees  made  themselves  use- 
ful, and  knew  how  to  rob  a  cornfield.  Encamjx'd  in  an  orchard,  and  had 
some  cows  driven  up  and  shot  for  supper  and  l)reakfast  in  the  morning. 

15th.  Cheatham  in  advance.  Loring,  Walthall,  and  I  were  in  the  rear. 
During  the  march  most  of  the  tield  and  staff  officers  of  the  Seventeenth 
Iowa  walked  along  with  me.  They  were  jolly,  good  fellows,  and  laughed 
heartilj'  at  their  dinner  of  green  corn,  and  warm  cow  beef  for  supper  and 
breakfast,  and  one  of  them  i)resented  me  with  a  silk  sash.  He  insisted  on 
\nj  accej)tin,ti  it.  He  told  me  "that  much  stress  was  placed  on  starving  us 
out,  but  from  the  experience  they  had  in  the  past  two  daj's  they  did  not 
think  we  could  be  starved  out  at  all,  and  that  thej'  would  write  home  and 
tell  their  friends  that  the  starvation  game  was  played  out."  They  made 
uo  complaint,  for  they  messed  with  oiir  men. 

16th.  Left  Treadway's  Gap  this  morning.  Gen.  Sears's  Brigade  and 
Koll)'s  battery  remained  to  defend  the  (iap.  I  moved  on  through  Sum- 
merville  and  encamped  at  Khincharfs.  Ordered  to  move  to  Lafaj'ette  at 
2  A.M.     I'igeon  Mountain  lof)ms  up  in  sight,  and  the  scenerjf  is  beautiful. 

17th.  Started  to  Lafayette,  as  ordered,  but  i-eturned  and  went  to  the 
junction  of  the  road  from  Lafayette  and  Rome  with  the  Alpine  road. 
Here  Sears's  Brigade  joined  the  division.     Encamped  at  Mr.  Mostellers. 

18th.  Took  the  road  at  5:80  p.m.,  passing  through  Gajdesville,  and  en- 
■camped  four  miles  beyond  the  town.  There  ai-e  some  good  farms  on  the 
Chattooga  river,  which  is  here  about  twenty-tive  yards  wide,  with  rocky 
bottom. 

I'Jth.  Started  at  6  a.m..  intending  to  go  to  Blue  Pond,  but  left  the  i-oad 
and  marched  across  to  the  Rome  and  (iadsden  road,  thence  to  Gadsden. 
■Crossed  Little  River.  Encamped  near  the  Jacksonville  and  (iadsden 
roads.  Cheatham's  Corps  near  by.  1  hear  various  rumors  in  regard  to 
Sherman's  movements.  The  main  question  is,  has  he  transportation  with 
him  to  enable  his  command  to  move  far  away  from  the  railroad?  I  am 
sure  he  will  find  all  he  wants  in  the  country  as  he  proceeds.  I  think-  we 
•do  not  leave  much  in  the  way  of  rations  behind  us.  Received  letters  from 
home  to-night. 

20th.  Marched  about  two  miles  beyond  (Jadsden  and  encamjjed  at 
Mrs.  Sansom's.  Her  daughter,  Miss  Emma,  was  at  home.  When  Eederal 
<jren.  Streight  with  two  thousand  men  from  Rome  Avas  captured  by  (ien. 
Forrest,  he  was  under  many  obligations  to  Miss  Sansom,  who  during  the 
fight  mounted  Forrest's  horse,  sat  behind  him,  and  piloted  him  across 
Black  Creek,  which  contributed  much  to  enable  him  to  capture  the  enemy. 
Out  of  complinn-nt  to  Miss  Sansom.  I  got  (Jen.  Cockrell's  band  to  play  for 


288  Tiro  Wars. 

her  and  her  niothor.  Wliilc  we  were  honoriuij  Miss  Sansoni,  a  limitjry 
soldier  was  skinninjj  one  of  tin-  Madam's  liogs,  nTid,(i])roj)os,  I  had  tlie 
skin  secured  to  the  soldier's  back,  and  thus  he  was  marched  about  camp, 
a  warning  to  others  not  to  plunder.  There  is  a  waterfall  on  Hlack  Creek, 
near  here,  reported  to  lie  one  hundred  feet  high. 

The  Legislature  of  Alabama  has  irraiited  to  MissSansom  a  sec- 
tion of  land.  If  she  had  betrayed  Forrest,  she  might  perhaps 
now  l)e  in  receipt  of  a  pension  from  the  United  States  treasury, 
because  tlie  ])ension  roll  is  a  Koll  of  Honor,  and  so  compi-ehen- 
sive  lliat  it  cuibraces  deserters  from  oui-  army  who  enlisted  in 
theii's.  I  have  not  inquired  if  substitutes  receive  pensions, 
l)ut  it  is  fair  to  presume  they  do.  Were  they  not  patriots^ 
What  is  a  patriot  (  What  is  patriotism  (  Dr.  Sam  Johnson, 
the  great  lexicographer,  declared  it  to  be  '*the  last  refuge  of  a 
consununate  scoundrel." 

■21st.  Keniained  in  i-aiup.  Next  day  marched  nineteen  miles.  Crossed 
the  Black  Warrior  river,  and  crossed  over  Sand  Mountain.  On  the  25th 
we  passed  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee  and 
Coosa  rivers.  Heard  artillery  tiring  all  the  morning,  apparentl,y  at  Deca- 
tur. This  .sounds  natural,  as  I  have  heard  big  guns  almost  daily  for  three 
years.  It  must  have  been  inspiriting,  for  we  marched  twenty  miles  to- 
day. I  am  to-night  within  seven  m'lles  of  Summerville,  and  six  miles  in 
advance  of  Walthall. 

25th.  I  had  to  wait  until  noon  for  Walthall  to  pass  on  in  advance,  con- 
sequently I  marched  only  four  miles.  Rain  is  falling  fast.  It  rained  all 
day  on  the  26th.  In  the  afternoon  reached  Decatur,  boring's  division 
took  position  near  the  defensive  works  and  commenced  firing  with  his 
batteries  on  a  fort  in  front.  Went  into  bivouac  in  columns  of  brigades 
within  easy  cannon  range  of  the  guns  of  the  enemj'.  At  dusk  sent  Ector's 
Brigade  to  the  Danville  road  to  guard  it  until  Cheatham's  Corps  arrived 
by  that  road.     And  still  it  rains. 

2Tth.  Here  we  all  are  in  front  of  Decatur.  Will  Hood  attack  tlu'  de- 
fensive works  of  the  town?  I  can  see  nothing  to  be  gained  by  it  to  com- 
pensate for  the  loss  of  men.  We  do  not  waiU  the  position.  'J'his  afternoon 
I  received  orders  to  move  over  west  of  the  Danville  road.  Reached  the 
position  at  sunset.  Relieved  (Jen.  (iuist.  and  went  into  line  not  far  in 
front  of  Mr.  (iarth's  residence.  Rode  down  to  the  skirmish  lini':  found 
Gen.  Brown  there.  I  relieved  his  men  on  the  line  with  three  of  my  regi- 
ments, and  drove  in  the  Federal  skirmishers.  There  was  firing  all  round, 
but  most  on  Loi-ing's  line.  I  Ijclieve  some  negro  troops  made  an  attack 
on  him.     Gen.  Beauregard  is  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Garth. 

2Sth.  Remained  in  camp.  Cheatham's  ])ickets  formed  a  line  in  front 
of  my  division  pickets  and  (icn.  Brown's  also  during  the  night.  Had  to 
send  Coekrell's  Bi'igade  to  rejxjrt  to  (jen.  Loi-ing.  who  geneially  magnilies- 


Dec  A  TUR  NO  t  A  tta  cked.  289 

the  forces  of  the  enemy.     Received  orders  to  move  my  coniinaiid  to  Court- 
laad  in  the  morning.     The  nights  are  cohl  and  the  frosts  very  heavy. 

39th.  Started  this  morning  by  the  railroad,  but  not  in  the  cars.  The 
line  of  the  railroad  crosses  from  the  right  to  the  left  bank  <jf  the  Tennessee 
river  at  Uecatur,  and  I  am  marching  down  the  left  bank.  The  country  is 
beautiful,  and  the  soil  rich;  but  what  a  desolation  evei'ywhere!  The 
dreamy  silence,  the  absence  of  life,  the  smoky  atmosphere,  the  abandoned 
dwellings,  the  uncultivated  fields,  the  destruction  of  fences — evei*ything, 
evei'y  where  mark  the  ravages  of  war  that  has  changed  this  once  beautiful 
valley  of  the  Tennessee  into  a  desert  in  all  .save  the  rich  soil.  Here  the 
tide  of  war  hasebl)ed  and  flowed:  and  far  and  wide  have  the  raiding  parties 
roamed  until  almost  every  means  of  subsistence  has  been  consumed  or 
destroyed.  The  only  signs  of  life  are  here  and  there  a  rabbit  startled 
from  ambush,  and  now  ami  then  a  solitary  crow  perched  on  a  dead  limb 
of  a  tree.  Made  my  camp  on  a  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Swoope.  but  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Watkins.  Cheatham's  Corps  and  some  cavalry  were 
left  at  Decatur. 

The  Federal  forces  in  Decatur  were  commanded  by  Gen.  K. 
S.  (irano^er,  an  old  friend  of  mine,  and  he  was  brevetted  for  his 
gallant  defense  of  the  town.  Dear  me!  I  did  not  think  there 
was  a  skirmish  there,  and  no  effort  was  made  to  take  the  place, 
althoiisrh  the  forces  w^ere,  in  strength,  less  than  those  at  Alla- 
toona.  Gen.  Granger  told  me,  when  I  met  him  after  the  war, 
what  his  numbers  were. 

30th.  Left  Courtland  this  morning,  moving  along  the  track  of  the  rail- 
road toward  Tuscumbia.  Stopped  at  Col.  Saunders's  for  dinner.  They 
have  a  beautiful  and  costly  residence.  There  were  present  for  dinner 
Mrs.  and  Miss  Saunders,  Miss  Sherod,  Gen.  Cheatham,  Vo\.  Shotwell.  Col. 
Brown.  Mr.  Foster,  and  others.  Encamped  at  Leighton.  near  the  house 
of  Dr.  Kompy.     Took  tea  with  the  family. 

31st.  Arrived  at  Tuscumbia.  Encamped  on  the  creek.  Stopped  at 
Mrs.  Chadwick's.  Gen.  S.  D.  Lee  had  crossed  the  two  divisions  of  his 
corps  over  the  Tennessee  river.  I  was  surprised  at  this  because  of  the 
width  of  the  river,  and  the  apprehension  of  the  pontoons  giving  way  or 
being  broken.  The  day  is  bright  and  beautiful.  Kode  up  to  see  the  spring. 
The  volume  of  water  gushing  out  of  rocks,  from  far  below,  is  suflicient  to 
form  a  large  creek.  The  town  is  old,  and  now  dilapidated.  Most  of  the 
dwellings  from  Leighton  to  this  place  have  l)eeu  burned  by  the  enemy. 

The  houses  of  absentees  were  always  destroyed  in  that  way, 
it  being  a  crime  to  leave  home. 

November  1.     Busy  arranging  transportation.    I  am  told  that  the  pon- 
toons do  not  reach  to  the  other  shore.      From  to-day  to  the  13th  we  re- 
mained in  Tuscumbia  because  of  the  heavy  rains  that  delayed  the  arrival 
H) 


290  Two  Wars. 

of  supplies.  During  this  period  the  Yankees  made  two  attempts  to  cut 
the  ropes  of  the  pontoons;  onee  tliej-  went  down  the  wrong  channel:  next 
day  they  cut  the  rope,  hut  their  boat  upset  and  they  wei"e  captured.  Ru- 
mor reports  that  Sherman,  with  a  large  force,  is  between  Chattanooga 
and  Atlanta.  I  remained  at  or  near  Tuscumbia  until  the  20th.  when  1 
pre])ared  to  cross  the  river.  For  three  weeks  it  has  rained  almost  con- 
tinuously, making  the  roads  very  bad.  I  remonstrated  with  Gen  Hood, 
at  a  meeting  of  his  otticers.  against  taking  so  many  pieces  of  artiilerj'  with 
the  army  unless  we  had  nfiill  supply  of  horses  for  the  guns.  But  he  in- 
sisted that,  once  in  Tennessee,  men  would  join  us.  horses  could  be  ob- 
tained, and  the  men  be  supplied  with  shoes  and  clothing. 

20th.  I  passed  over  the  Tennessee  river  by  the  pontoon  bridge  en  route 
to  Nashville.  To-day  we  learned  that  Sherman's  advance  had  readied 
Griffin  on  the  16th.  Here  are  two  armies  that  have  been  fighting  each 
other  from  about  the  first  of  May  to  the  first  of  Noveml)er,  six  months — 
parted — the  one  heading  for  the  Atlantic  ocean,  two  hundred  and  ten 
miles  .from  Atlanta,  and  the  other  marching  from  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  for 
Nashville.  Tenn.,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  miles  distant.  The  one  is  a 
strategic  move  against  the  army  of  R.  E.  Lee,  in  Virginia,  and  the  other 
apjjears  a  military  error,  because  it  must  meet  accumulative  forces  as  it 
advances  into  the  enemy's  zone.  Winter  is  near  and  the  army  not 
clothed. 

21st.  Having  crossed  the  river  yesterday,  and  moveil  out  on  the  Law- 
renceburg  road  five  miles,  we  started  this  morning  through  mud  from 
four  to  twenty  inches  deep,  and  through  snow  that  the  keen  wind 
blew  in  our  faces.  In  the  afternoon  we  enc^amjjcd  by  the  roadside,  near 
a  deserted  habitation.  The  weather  is  bitterly  cold,  and  the  snow  falling. 
Sleeping  on  the  ground  covered  with  snow. 

22d.  Resumed  the  march.  Roads  miserable.  Encamped  seven  miles 
beyond  Priwit's  Mills.  J^ee's  Corps  is  on  our  left  and  Cheatham's  on  the 
right.  Stewart's  is  the  central  column.  Snowed  some  to-day,  and  the 
ground  was  frozen  so  hard  that  it  \nn-v  the  wagons.  Artillerj'  delayed 
everything,  and  some  of  it  did  not  reach  camp  until  daylight,  just  as  I 
told  Gen.  Hood  it  would  be:  in  fact,  men  had  to  haul  their  guns  over  bad 
places.  In  the  conference.  I  told  Hood  he  Avould  take  the  guns  to  Nash- 
ville only  to  turn  som<!  of  them  over  to  the  enemy  for  want  of  horses. 
This  is  my  Inrthday.     What  a  delightful  time  I  have  hadi 

23d.  This  morning  I  was  ordere  I  to  remain  in  camp  and  await  the 
arrival  of  the  supply  train.  Ai-tillery  went  on  under  charge  of  Col.  Wil- 
liams. Bushwhackers  I'ejjortcd  on  the  road.  Continued  the  march  to 
Mt.  Pleasant.  Remained  all  night  with  Mi".  Granbury.  The  roads 
still  in  very  Ijad  condition.  .Started  on  the  morrow  amidst  the  rain  and 
mud.  Passed  through  a  beautiful  country.  Passed  the  home  of  Gen.  G. 
J.  Pillow.  Reached  C'olumbia.  Encircled  the  town  with  troops,  and 
some  skirmishing  ensued.  The  enemy  left  the  ])lace  last  night,  and  early 
this  morning  "we  entered  the  town.  (ien.  Schotield  with  his  army  is  now 
on  the  north  side  of  Duck  river.  otTering  a  strong  resistance  to  our  crossing. 
I  was  invited   to  the  house  of  Mr.   Mathews.     In  the  afternoon  I  moved 


A  Sleepino  Genkhal.  291 

my  division  up  the  river  to  cross  it:  l)iit  as  the  l)ridge  was  not  ready,    I 
turned  hack. 

2yth,  This  morning  Cheatham's  Corps.  Johnston's  Division,  and  Stew- 
art's Corps,  and  one  Ijattery  of  artillery  (the  ca\'alry  in  advance)  moved 
up  the  river  to  near  Hewey's  ferry  and  crossed  it  on  a  pontoon  bridge; 
(ien.  S.  D.  Lee,  with  the  remainder  of  the  army,  remained  in  Columbia, 
making  a  strong  demonstration  to  hold  the  enemy  there. 

This  was  a  strateoric  movement  of  Hood's  to  gain  the  Frank- 
lin pike  in  rear  of  the  enemy.  We  marched  rapidly  for  Spring 
Hill  by  a  eoimtry  road.  Hearing  the  cannonading  all  the  time 
at  Colnmbia,->  we  were  encouraged  and  hopeful  of  reaching  Spring 
Hill  l)efore  the  enemy  did.  Schofield,  no  doubt,  was  informed 
that  we  were  crossing,  and,  having  a  shorter  and  better  road  to 
travel,  got  Gen.  Stanley  with  a  divisioji  and  much  artillery  at 
Spring  Hill  and  in  position  before  Hood  arrived  there  at  the 
head  of  Cheatham's  Corps.  Perhaps,  apprehensive  that  the  en- 
emy might  move  on  the  Murfreesboro  road,  he  halted  Stewart's 
Corps  and  Johnston's  Division  at  Kutherford  creek,  some  four 
miles  from  the  pike.  Our  ct)rps  was  kept  here  until  dark, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  move  on  toward  the  pike. 

When  Hood  arrived  in  view  of  the  pike  and  saw  the  road  filled 
with  United  States  wagons  in  hasty  retreat  to  Franklin,  what 
orders  he  gave  Cheatham  I  know  not,  for  Iils  version  differs 
from  what  Hood  says  were  given  Jum.  But  Hood  was  on  the 
ground  present,  and  that  settles  the  question.  The  sun  went 
down,  darkness  came,  and  later  we  went  into  bivouac.  The  head 
of  our  army  reached  the  pike  alxnit  3  p.m.  and  we  were  halted. 
As  but  little  nmsketry  was  heard,  otlicers  naturally  asked: 
"What  did  we  come  here  for  i ''  There  was  a  house  near  by  my 
heachiuarters,  and  about  0  p.m.  I  walked  over  to  it.  In  the 
drawing  room  1  found  Gen.  James  K.  Chalmers  and  other  cav- 
alry officers.  Chalmers  said  they  were  short  or  out  of  ammu- 
nition. On  inquiry  as  to  the  cartridges  they  used,  Maj.  Storrs, 
my  ordnance  officer,  said  he  could  su})ply  them  with  ammimition, 
and  1  ordered  him  to  issue  them  cartridges  at  once.  Occasion- 
ally we  heard  some  picket  firing  toward  the  north.  It  was  Gen. 
Ross's  men  on  the  road  to  Franklin.  Cheatham's  Corps  went  into 
bivouac  near  the  pike,  and  so  in  comparative  silence  the  long 
night  wore  away.  Hood  slept.  The  head  and  the  eyes  and 
ears  of  the  army,  all  dead  from  sleeping.  Ye  godsl  will  no 
geese  give  them  warning  as  they  did  in  ancient  Rome^ 


292  7' MO  WAhs. 

30th.  We  were  up  before  the  morning  star.  My  division  was  ordered 
to  take  the  advance  to  Franklin  in  pursuit  of  Schofield,  for  now  everj' 
one  knew  he  passed  by  us  while  we  were  dreaming.  Artillery'  and  wagons, 
infantry  and  horse,  all  gone  on  to  Franklin!  When  I  reached  the  pike  I 
met  Gen.  Hood,  and  he  exclaimed;  "Well,  Gen.  French,  we  have  missed 
the  great  opportunity  of  the  war!"  "  Yes."  1  replied.  "  I  am  told  the  Yan- 
kees passed  along  all  night  and  lit  their  pipes  at  our  camp  fires."  Of 
course  my  answer  was  a  little  figurative,  but  some  soldiers  heard  it.  and, 
taking  it  literally,  it  soon  spread  through  the  ranks. 

The  idea  of  a  commanding  general  reaching  his  t>l)jective 
point,  that  required  prompt  and  immediate  action  and  skillful 
tactics,  to  turn  away  and  go  to  bed  surpasses  the  understanding. 
The  truth  is,  Hood  had  been  outgeneraled,  and  Stanley  with  the 
Federal  troops  got  to  Spring  Hill  before  Hood  did.  What  in- 
formation Hood  received  of  the  enemy,  when  he  reached  the 
pike,  if  any,  no  one  will  ever  know.  Why  did  he  not  in  per- 
son form  his  line  of  battle  and  attack  the  enemy  at  Spring  Hill? 
Although  we  yielded  the  right  of  way,  the  enemy  must  have 
been  a  little  nervous,  because  the  slight  tiring  done  by  Ross's 
men  caused  the  enemy  to  abandon  about  thirty  wagons,  and  I 
could  not  but  observe  what  a  number  of  r/eskf<  containing  offi- 
cial vouchers  had  been  throirn  from  the  wagons  by  the  roadside. 
Had  there  been  a  cavalry  force  with  artillery  north  of  Spring 
Hill  and  near  the  pike  to  have  shelled  the  road,  there  woidd  no 
doubt  have  i)eeii  a  stampede  and  a  wreck  of  Avagons. 

My  division  overtook  the  enemy  near  Franklin,  drawn  up  on 
a  range  of  hills  about  tw^o  miles  from  the  town,  and  when  I  be- 
gan to  deploy  niy  troops,  to  advance  a  line  on  their  flank  and 
rear,  they  fell  back  to  the  town. 

I  rode  with  some  members  of  my  stafl  to  the  top  of  a  high 
wooded  hill,  from  which  1  could  look  down  on  the  surrounding 
country.  Before  me  were  the  town,  the  green  plains  around  it; 
the  line  of  defensive  works,  the  forts  and  parks  of  artillery  on 
the  heights  across  the  river,  long  lines  of  blue-clad  infantry 
strengthening  their  lines,  and  trains  moving  over  the  river. 
While  I  sat  at  the  root  of  a  giant  tree  a  longtime  surveying  the 
scene  before  me,  I  called  to  mind  that  ntn^er  yet  had  any  one  seen 
the  Confederates  assigned  to  inc  driven  from  any  position, 
much  less  from  defensive  works,  by  assault,  and  T  inferred  that 
it  would  require  a  great  sacrifice  of  life  to  drive  the  veteran  Fed- 
erals from  their  lines,  and  thought  if  Hood  could  only  ride  up 


A 


BATTLE    OF    FKANKHN. 


294  Two  Waes. 

here  iind  look  ralinly  down  on  tlie  battle  array  before  him  he 
would  not  try  to  take  the  town  by  assault.  But  the  oti'sprinir  of 
Hood's  conception  at  Columbia  came  stillborn  at  Spring  Hill, 
caused  by  an  oversleep.  Chagrin  at  this  mishap  and  awakened 
at  the  consequences,  without  duly  considerinir  the  whole  field  of 
war  and  deducing  therefrom  what  was  best  ivr  the  ctaisi-^  he  im- 
patiently formed  line  with  the  two  cor})s  with  him  and  prepared 
to  assault  the  town.  Perhaps  he  forgot  to  call  to  mind  the  well- 
acknowledged  fact  that  out-  man  behind  an  intrenched  line  is 
equal  to  Jive  in  front.  Now  Schofield  had  at  Franklin,  by  re- 
port in  the  War  Records,  25,420  men,  exclusive  of  cavalry; 
and  Hood  had  21,874:  men,  exclusive  of  a  part  of  Lee's  Corps, 
the  cavalry  and  Ector's  Brigade  detached.  So  any  one  can  com- 
pute what  Hood's  strength,  or  numbers,  should  be  to  make  a  fair 
hght.  Therefore,  it  is  probable  that  Hood,  by  disappointment 
at  Spring  Hill,  inconsiderately,  and  without  careful  reconnois- 
sance,  determined  immediately  to  attack  the  fortified  city  with 
21,87-1:  men,  without  any  artillery,  except  two  guns  brought  with 
him. 

The  sketch  of  thetield  of  Franklin  will  show^  that  the  Harpeth 
river  in  its  meandering  covers  three  of  the  four  sides  of  the  town. 
The  line  of  intrenchments  extended  from  the  Nashville  and  Deca- 
tur railroad  around  the  southern  and  western  parts  of  the  town 
to  the  Harpeth  river,  with  an  advanced  line  extending  to  some 
distance  on  either  side  of  the  Columbia  ])ike.  Also  I  saw  rifle 
pits  inside  the  works  from  wdiich  a  tii'c  was  opened  on  our  troops 
after  they  scaled  the  main  line. 

TnK  Battlk. 

"Sly  division,  as  1  have  told  you,  was  the  van  of  the  army,  and 
as  we  neared  Franklin  it  left  the  pike,  turning  to  the  right  or 
east,  and  halted  near  the  river.  Here  (len.  Stewart  formed  his 
corps  in  order  of  battle  by  placing  Loring  on  the  right,  A\'al- 
thall  in  the  center,  and  Fi'ench  on  the  left.  This  brought  me 
nearest  to  the  Columbia  pike,  as  will  be  shown.  Cheatham's 
Corps  was  formed  with  his  right  resting  on  or  near  the  pike, 
which  brought  Cleburne's  right  a  half  mile  distant  on  my  left. 
We  were  thus  formed,  as  it  were,  in  a  circle  like  the  fellies  of 
a  wheel;  and  each  division  marching  to  one  comnum  center 
caused  them   to  overlap   before  reaching   the  enemy,  because 


The  Charge  at  Fhasklix.  295 

tlio  c-irclc  tx'caiiu'  sinulk'r  and  smaller.  My  (li\isi<)ii  consisted 
of  only  two  hriiriides.  CockrelTs  and  Sears's.  Ector's  Bri^rade 
was  on  detached  duty.  Stewart's  ('ori)s,  heinof  in  advance,  was 
tirst  formed,  and  we  rested.  The  sun  was  siid-cin^r  in  the  west, 
the  day  was  drawinsf  to  its  close,  the  tumult  and  excitement  had 
ceased.  The  winds  were  in  their  caves,  the  silence  tliat  precedes 
the  storm  was  f''Jt:  the  calm  before  the  earthquake  which  by 
some  I'll'-  of  nature  forewarns  fowls  to  seek  the  tields.  l)irds  to 
fly  away,  and  cattle  to  run  to  the  hills,  althoujjch  withheld  from 
man,  seemed  to  presage  an  impending  calamity,  as  painful  in  sus- 
pense as  the  disclosure  of  any  reality.  From  this  feeling  of 
anxiety,  sometimes  incident  to  men  when  held  in  readiness  to 
engage  in  a  great  battle,  there  came  relief  by  a  signal.  And 
what  a  change  I  Twenty  thousand  gallant  Confederates  at  the 
word  of  command  moved  proudly  over  the  open  plain  to  the  at- 
tack. It  was  a  glorious  and  imposing  sight,  and  one  so  seldom 
witnessed,  as  all  were  in  full  view\  Soon  my  division  came  un- 
der the  artillery  Are  of  both  the  guns  in  front  and  those  in  po- 
sitit)n  in  the  forts  across  the  river,  undaunted  by  the  crash  of 
shells,  all  moved  gallantly  on  and  met  the  tire  of  the  enemy  in 
the  outer  line  of  defense.  It  was  only  the  work  of  a  few  min- 
utes to  crush  the  outer  line,  and  when  it  broke  and  tried  to  gain 
the  main  works  they  were  so  closely  followed  by  our  men  that 
friends  and  foe,  pursuer  and  pursued,  in  one  mass,  rushed  over 
the  parapet  into  the  town.  During  this  time  the  tire  from  the 
enemy  on  this  part  of  the  line  ceased  so  as  to  admit  their  own 
troops.  But  the  Confederates  now  inside  were  confronted  with 
a  reserve  force  and  either  killed  or  captured. 

As  our  division  overlapped,  immediately  another  line  made  the 
assault,  and  again  the  smoke  cloud  of  battle  so  obscured  the 
plain  that  I  could  see  only  beneath  the  cloud  an  incessant  sheet 
of  flame  rolling  on  the  ground,  in  which  the  combatants  flitted 
about  like  the  pictures  of  demons  in  Tophet.  The  shock  was 
too  violent  to  last.  Its  force  was  soon  spent.  The  fire  slackened, 
and  as  the  smoke  was  wafted  away  in  broken  clouds,  the  sight 
was  appalling!  What  a  ghastly  scene  was  in  front  of  the  gin- 
house!  The  dead  and  wounded  were  visible  for  a  moment,  only 
to  be  again  enveloped  in  the  cloud  of  l)attle  beneath  which  the 
Angel  of  Death  garnered  his  harvest.  "On!  on!  forward!  for- 
ward!" was  the  cry.     It  was  death  to  stop,  and  safety  was  in  a 


296  Two  Wars. 

measure  found  in  tlie  ditch  l)eneath  the  tire  from  the  para])et. 
There  thousands  remained  all  nio:ht;  others  were  repulsed  and 
di'iven  ]>ack.  My  division  was  re-formed  beyond  the  rang-e  of 
musketry,  but  exposed  to  artillery  in  front  and  from  the  fort 
across  the  river. 

Gen.  Sears's  men,  those  that  were  repulsed,  fell  back  with  some 
order,  but  CockrelFs  Briofade  had  nearly  all  disappeared.  Now 
and  then  a  few  came  out.  Cockrell  was  wounded.  Col.  E. 
Gates  came  out  riding  with  his  bridle  reins  in  his  mouth,  being 
wounded  in  l)oth  hands.  I  was  on  foot.  My  horse,  during  the 
continued  shelling  at  Kennesaw  Mountain,  took  a  dislike  to 
shells,  and  manifested  it  on  this  occasion  by  using  only  his  hind 
feet  when  walking.     I  had  to  give  him  to  the  orderly  to  lead. 

Gen.  Walthall  came  out  at  the  time  we  did.  He  rode  up  to 
me,  and  as  I  put  my  hand  on  his  horse's  shoulder  to  talk  with 
him.  the  animal  reared  up,  plunged  violently  forward,  and  fell 
dead,  throwing  the  General  far  over  his  head.  The  horse  had 
been  shot  and  that  was  the  death  struggle.  We  fell  back,  and 
bivouacked  just  out  of  range  of  tire.  It  was  now  growing  dark: 
but  still  the  battle  raged  furiously  at  intervals  till  near  mid- 
night, especially  on  the  west  side  of  the  pike,  mainly  between 
our  troops  in  the  ditch,  and  on  the  captured  parapet,  with  the 
enemy  on  inside  lines;  and  the  l)right  glare  of  musketry  with  the 
flashes  of  artillery  lit  up  the  surroundings  with  seemingly  titful 
volcanic  fires,  presenting  a  night  scene  frightfully  wildand  weird. 

Gen.  S.  D.  Lee's  Corps  and  the  artillery  had  arrived,  and  after 
dark  orders  were  given  l\y  Gen.  Hood  that  after  midnight  or 
near  dawn  one  hundred  rounds  would  be  tired  by  every  piece  of 
artillery,  and  then  the  troops  /rould  as.saalt  the  loorhs  again  over 
the  same  ground.  Festus  assigned  a  reason  for  St.  Paul's  mad- 
ness, but  no  one  attributed  Hood's  madness  to  that  cause  when 
thi-H  order  was  given.*  However,  when  no  reply  was  made  to 
our  guns  it  was  discovered  that  Schotield  had,  with  the  main 
body  of  his  army,  abandoned  Franklin  and  was  on  his  way  to 
Nashville. 

It  was  a  terrible  battle.     One  of  my  brigades,  Cockrell's,  made 

*See  S.  P.  Lee's  "Brief  History  of  the  United  States."  It  confirms  my 
diary.  Also  hook  (»f  (ien.  J.  1).  ('ox,  United  States  army,  and  War  Rec- 
ords, and  Maj.  Sanders's  letter,  on  page  340.  Also  letter  of  Kev.  Tliomas 
K.  Harkhani.  i)ajjfe  84'i. 


SUSTAINIXG  A  RhWUTAriOS.  297 

theassault  with  61>6  officers  and  men,  and  when  it  was  over  he  had 
277  men  in  his  brio^ade.  His  loss  was,  killed,  I'J  officers  and  79 
men;  wounded,  31  officers  and  198  men;  missing,  13  officers  and 
79  men;  total,  419,  which  was  over  sixty  per  cent.  The  missing 
were  captured  inside  the  works,  as  stated  by  some  who  esca[)ed. 
.Sears's  Brigade  met  with  less  loss,  because  it  stopped  a  few  min- 
utes in  the  exterior  line  ])efore  moving  to  the  main  line.  There 
were  twelve  general  officers  killed  and  wounded  and  one  taken 
prisoner.* 

Hood's  official  report  puts  our  loss  at  4,. 500.  I  believe  that 
this  grand  charge  of  21,800  men,  for  a  mile  or  more  over  an  open 
plain,  all  in  full  view,  was  grander  than  any  charge  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

After  the  fall  of  Vicksl)urg,  and  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  had 
been  fought,  and  enlistments  in  the  Confederate  service  had 
practically  ceased,  and  the  exchange  of  prisoners  stopped,  as  I 
have  stated,  it  certainly  behooved  the  government  and  the  gener- 
als in  command  of  the  armies  in  the  East  and  in  the  West  to 
husband  their  men  and  resources.  I  know  this  was  the  opinion  of 
Gen.  J.  E.  Johnston,  and  it  was  perhaps,  in  a  measure,  attributa- 
ble to  this  that  Gen.  Hood  superseded  him  in  command  of  the  army 
then  at  Atlanta,  for  he  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  "  tighter," 
and  when  put  in  command  had  to  sustain  that  reputation.  Gen. 
Grant  was  intrusted  with  the  exchange  of  prisoners  and  (to  take 
the  ignominy  off  the  government)  discontinued  the  exchange, f 

*Gen.  John  Adams,  of  Loring's  Division,  was  killed  about  two  hundred 
yards'east  of  the  ginhouse,  and  his  body  was  removed  to  near  the  ginhouse 
by  order  of  Col.  Casement,  United  States  army,  who  put  a  guard  over  it. 
So  after  the  battle  it  was  not  found  where  he  fell.  This  led  to  the  belief 
that  Loring's  Division  extended  to  near  the  ginhouse. 

It  has  been  a  source  of  regret  to  me  that  I  was  unable  to  write  an  official 
report  of  the  battle  of  Franklin  immediately  after  it  was  ended,  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  condition  of  my  eyes  it  was  put  off;  and  now  I  wonder  why 
I  did  not  have  my  chief  of  staff  write  it  vinder  my  dictation,  but  so  it  is: 
amidst  the  confusion  following  the  battle  it  was  neglected.  I  might  add 
here  that  it  was  years  before  my  eyes  were  well,  though  ti'eated  by  a  spe- 
cialist. 

t'lhe  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  dated  August  18,  1864,  writ- 
ten at  City  Point  by  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  to  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler,  agent  of 
exchange  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Va. : 

"It  is  hard  on  our  men  held  in  Southern  prisons  not  to  exchange  them, 
but  it  is  humanitv  to  those  left  in  the  ranks  to  tight  our  battles.     Every 


298  7'iro  YVabs. 

and  thus  all  increase  of  our  lighting  force  ceased.  Therefore  the 
men  in  the  army  had  lieoome  f/te  Confedi'meii ^  and  to  them  the 
])()\ver  was  virtually  transmitted,  and  the  connnanders  of  armies 
held  the  destiny  of  the  nation  in  their  hands.  No  dictator  ap- 
})earedl  Wisdom  called  for  the  Fal)ian  policy:  heedless  of  her 
voice,  the  tJiinl  day  after  being  in  command  he  ft)ught  the  bat- 
tle of  Peach  Tree  Creek.  Two  days  after  this  (on  the  22d)  he 
fought  the  battle  of  Atlanta:  and  on  the  28th,  a  third  battle,  with- 
out a  victory,  and  all  the  time  the  siege  of  the  city  continued. 
Tlie  men  he  lost  diminished  his  power.  The  loss  to  the  enemy 
Avas  nothing.  Men  cost  nothing,  and  they  could  get  all  they 
wanted.  Next  came  Jonesboro,  and  then  Allatoona,  ])oth  re- 
ducing his  strength.  And  now  came  the  battle  of  Franklin, 
where  he  lost  a))out  .5,000  more  men.  Why  were  the  lines  of 
the  enemy  assaulted  at  Franklin!'  Was  it  a  strategical  points 
No.  Were  there  in  the  town  magazines  or  army  stores  r  No. 
Was  there  anything  of  such  value  as  to  justify  21,874:  men  as- 
saulting a  town  defended  by  2."), 420  veteran  troops?  No  I  Scho- 
iield  w^as  crossing  his  teams  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  join  (ien. 
Thomas  at  Nashville. 

I  was  asked  by  (ren.  T.  ,1.  Wood,  l'.  S.  A.  (in  1865),  who 
was  at  Franklin:  "'Why  did  you  tight  us  at  Franklin,  when  we 
were  getting  away  from  there  as  fast  as  we  could?''  He  said: 
"The  order  directing  the  operation  of  withdrawing  the  troops 
had  been  issued,  and  the  otiicers  were  assembled  in  Schotield's 
office,  when,  to  our  astonishment,  a  cannon  shot  was  heard,  and, 
looking  out,  we  saw  your  ti'oo})s  advancing.  That  order  for 
evacuating  the  place  was  not  changed.  Our  apprehension  was 
that  you  would  cross  the  river  an<l  outflank  us,  as  you  did  at 
Spring  Hill." 

I  thought  when  we  arrived  at  Franklin  that  Hood,  who  had 
declined  to  attack  a  garrison  of  500  men  at  Resaca  with  his 


man  released  on  jjai'olc  or  otherwise  l)eeonies  an  active  soldier  against  us 
at  once,  either  directly  or  indirectly.  If  we  commence  a  system  of  ex- 
change which  lil)erates  all  prisoners  taken,  we  will  have  to  tight  on  until 
the  wliole  South  is  exterminated.  If  we  hold  those  caught,  they  amount 
to  no  more  than  dead  men.  At  tliis  particular  time  to  release  all  Rebel  ])iis- 
oners  North  would  insure  Sherman's  defeat,  and  would  compromise  our 
safety  here."  (See  War  Records,  page  606,  Series  II.,  Vol.  VII.,  Serial  No. 
120.) 


SuRPBisiNG  Comparison.  299 

whole  army  present,  and  did  not  risk  an  attack  on  the  works  at 
Decatur  when  ofarrisoned  l)v  '2, ()(>*)  men,  would  surely  not  assault 
the  town  grarrisoned  by  an  army  of  2."),(M>(>  men,  with  the  two 
army  corps  and  one  division  he  had  with  liini  numbering  only 
21,800  men.  Why  he  <rave  battle  when  so  little  could  he  chained, 
except  some  eclat,  I  cannt)t  tell.  1  only  know  that  he  said  to 
Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart  that  "captured  dispatches  told  him  the  time 
had  come  to  tio^ht." 

An  army  belonofs  to  the  nation  that  made  it,  and  not  to  the 
general  commanding  it.  Therefore  he  has  no  right  to  sacrifice 
it.* 

*Gen.  J.  D.  Cox,  Union  army,  who  commanded  most  of  the  troops  en- 
j^aged  in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  in  his  volume  published  describing  this 
battle  (on  page  15)  states  that  our  killed — 1,750 — exceeded  "Granfs  at  Shi- 
loh,  McClellan's  in  the  seven  days'  battle,  Burnside's  at  Fredericksburg, 
Rosecrans's  at  Stone's  I'iver  or  at  Chickamauga,  Hooker's  at  Chancellors- 
ville,  and  were  almost  as  many  as  Grant's  at  Cold  Harbor,  and  nine  less 
than  the  British  loss  at  Waterloo  out  of  43,000  men. "'  The  killed,  as  I  have 
shown  at  Buena  Vista,  is  very  great  compared  with  the  wounded;  more 
than  at  Franklin. 

Com])arisons  often  surprise  us.  An  examination  of  the  "United  States 
Army  Dictionary,"  by  C.  K.  Gardner,  Adjutant  General  U.  S.  A.,  brought 
down  to  1853,  shows  also  that  the  number  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in 
the  United  States  forces  during  the  war  with  Great  Britain  from  1813  to 
1815  were;  killed,  1,045;  wounded,  2,656;  total  3,701.  (The  Creek  Indian 
war  in  Georgia  and  Alabama  omitted.) 

Again,  the  whole  number  of  killed  and  wounded,  from  the  tiring  of  the 
first  gun  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande  to  Buena  Vista,  from  Vera  Cruz 
to  the  City  of  Mexico,  thence  to  the  shore  of  the  Pacific  and  in  California, 
was  only  4,808. 

And  so  the  facts  of  history  show  that  out  of  the  21,800  Confederate  sol- 
diei's  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Franklin  more  were  killed,  in  a  few  hours, 
than  during  either  of  the  two  preceding  wars.  In  the  Confederate  war 
the  United  States  lost,  killed,  90,183,  and  from  disease,  171,806. 

The  dispatch  that  Hood  captured  just  before  the  battle,  dated  Novem- 
ber 29,  1864,  3.30  a.m.,  will  be  found  in  (ien.  Cox's  book  (page  25).  There 
is  no  information  in  it  to  justify  Hood  in  making  the  assault.  Thomas 
merely  "tells  Schofield  to  fall  back  from  Columl)ia  to  Franklin,  and  that 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  command  had  tiol  ai'rived  in  Nashville,"  etc. 

Ma.i.  D.  W.  Sandkks'.s  Lettkh. 

May  6.  1897. 
Gen.  S.  G.  French,  Pensacola,  Fla, 

My  Dear  General:  In  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  29th  ult.,  in  which  you 

say  that  in  recent  correspondence  with  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart  he  says  that  he 


300  Tn^o  Wars. 

Mrs.  S.  P.  Lee  states  (on  pa^e  4'.K3)  that  "orders  were  given 
to  carry  the  inner  fortitications  at  daylight." 

has  no  recollection  of  Gen.  Hood's  order  for  the  artillery  at  Franklin  to 
be  put  in  position,  and  to  open  on  the  enemy  about  midnight,  and  when 
it  ceased  the  infantry  was  to  charge  the  lines  ov^er  the  same  ground  that 
they  dill  in  the  tirst  attack.  In  this  letter  you  also  ask  me  to  give  my  rec- 
ollections about  this  matter,  and  if  I  remember  the  order. 

I  remember  very  distinctly  that  the  order  was  given,  and  you  communi- 
cated it  to  me  as  the  adjutant  general  of  your  division  upon  your  return 
that  night — to  wit,  November  30, 1864 — from  Gen.  A.  P.  Stewart's  headquar- 
ters. This  order  I  delivered  to  the  officers  in  command  of  two  of  your  bri- 
gades; your  third  brigade,  which  was  Ector's  Brigade,  at  that  time  was  on 
detached  service  guarding  the  trains  in  the  rear  of  the  two  corps  which 
charged  the  enemy's  works  November  30,  1864,  at  Franklin,  Tenn. 

The  artiller}'  had  arrived  from  Columbia,  Tenn.,  and  was  placed  in  po- 
sition to  execute  this  order  of  Gen.  Hood's.  Lieut.  Col.  Llewellyn  Hoxton 
was  in  command  of  the  battalions  of  artillery.  At  the  time  indicated  in 
the  order  Col.  Hoxton's  artillery  opened  on  Franklin  with  a  heavy  can- 
nonade, to  which  there  was  no  response,  and  it  was  therefore  evident  that 
Schotield  had  successfully  withdrawn  his  forces  and  retreated  to  Nashville. 

In  September,  1886,  I  met  Col.  Hoxton  at  the  Episcopalian  school,  four 
or  five  miles  from  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  had  a  conversation  with  him,  and 
he  said  to  me  that  I  was  entirely  correct  in  my  recollection  of  this  partic- 
ular order,  and  that  he  was  in  command  of  the  artillei*y,  and  in  the  execu- 
tion of  his  order  opeueil  upon  Franklin,  and  no  reply  from  the  enemy  sat- 
isfied him  that  Schotield  had  retreated,  and  he  ceased  firing,  and  scouts 
were  sent  to  the  works,  which  they  found  abandoned,  and  penetrated  the 
village  of  Franklin  to  the  crossing  of  the  Harpeth  river;  and  immediately 
thereafter  a  great  many  soldiers,  under  the  command  of  their  officers, 
went  through  the  streets  and  alleys  of  Franklin,  and  it  was  thus  ascer- 
tained to  be  a  fact  that  the  enemy  had  retreated. 

I  rememl)er  distinctly  the  comments  of  the  officers  of  your  division  upon 
the  delivery  of  Gen.  Hood's  order  to  them,  that  they  would  obey  prompt- 
ly and  cheerfully,  Init  that  it  looked  to  them  as  the  highest  desperation  to 
undertake  to  charge  the  works  luider  cover  of  this  artillery  fire,  and  carry 
them  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The  fact  that  this  order  was  given,  and 
the  circumstances  surrounding  Hood's  troops  at  that  time,  are  indelibly 
impressed  upon  my  memory,  and  I  have  no  hesitancy  whatever  in  saying 
distinctly  and  unecpiivocally  that  the  order  was  given,  and  that  it  was  com- 
municated by  rae  to  the  commanders  of  the  brigades  of  j'our  division.* 

Yours  sincerely, 

D.  W.  Sanders. 

••'The  only  official  report  1  know  of,  which  in  any  manner  refers  to  this  order,  and  this 
inferentially,  is  that  of  Gen.  <;.  L.  Stevenson,  in  which  lie  says  : 

"  I>uring  the  night  (November  -iO,  1864)  this  division  wa."  j)Ut  in  position  preparatory  to 
SID  assault  which  it  was  announced  was  to  be  made  by  the  entire  army  at  daybreak."  (See 
War  Records,  Battle  of  Franklin.)  D.  W.  S. 


No  Be  PORT  Called  Fob.  301 

The  Kev.  Thomas  B.  Markham,  chaplain  to  Featherstone's 
Brifjade,  writes:  "Our  artillery  was  moved  to  within  point-blank 
range  of  the  enemy's  works,  ...  to  open  tire  on  them  at  ear- 
liest daybreak,  after  which  a  general  assault  was  to  be  made  by 
the  infantry,"  etc.  (Page  272,  Confederate  Ft^/?<^/v///,  June  Num- 
ber, 1895).) 

NOTK. 

It  has  lieen  a  source  of  much  regret  to  rue  that  1  was  unal)le  to  write  an 
official  report  of  the  battle  of  Franklin  ininiediately  after  it  occurred:  but 
on  account  of  the  condition  of  my  eyes  it  was  put  otT  from  time  to  time, 
and  now  I  wonder  why  I  did  not  have  my  adjutant  general  do  it  for  me. 
But  so  it  was,  under  the  sorrow  for  lost  friends  and  comrades,  and  the  im- 
mediate pursuit  of  the  enemy  to  Nashville,  it  was  neglected.  Besides,  as 
is  usual,  no  report  was  called  for  by  the  commander  of  the  army;  and  so 
with  many  it  has  become  only  a  memory  of  a  great  and  uncalled-for  dis- 
aster to  the  Confederate  cause — a  battle  fought  against  great  odds,  with- 
out any  compensating  value  if  successful. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

March  to  Nashville — Cold  Weather — Partial  Investment  of  the  City — Leave 
of  Absence — Turn  the  Command  Over  to  Brig.  Gen.  C.  W.  Sears — Bat- 
tle of  Nashville — Hood  Not  Physically  Able  for  the  Duties  of  a  Com- 
mander in  Want  of  All  Supplies — Marshal  Saxe — Mulai  Malek — Going 
to  Nashville  a  Failure:  Could  Not  Be  Otherwise — Leave  for  Columbus. 
Ga. — Marriage  toMarv  Fontaine  Abercrombie — Go  to  Meriwether  Coun- 
ty to  Avoid  Wilson's  Raid — Rol)bing  in  Columbus — Adventures  of  Mj' 
Orderly — Yankees  Raid  the  Houses — Gen.  A.  Had  No  Pies^Gens.  Lee 
and  Johnston  Surrender — Terms  Thereof — War  with  the  Musket  Ends. 

DECEMBER  2.  18B-1-,  Hood  in  his  impetuosity  rushed  in  i)ur- 
suit  of  Schotield's  army,  that  was  securely  at  rest  behind  the 
fortiticatious  at  Nashville,  where  he  formed  a  junction  with  the 
troops  thei'c  under  (xen.  G.  H.  Thomas.  Hood  formed  his  line 
clo.'^e  as  he  could  in  front  of  their  works.  ]My  division  was  on  the 
left  of  the  ( iranny  White  turnpike,  and  ran  north  of  the  dwelling 
of  E.  Montgoniery.  who  was  a  cotton  planter  and  neitrhbor  of 
mine  in  ^Mississippi.  Owing  to  the  condition  of  my  eyes,  I  could 
write  no  more  in  my  diary.  The  weather  was  cold,  the  ground 
frozen,  and  covered  with  snow, 

I  remained  there  suHering  w4th  my  eyes  until  the  l:Uii.  wiien 
I  was  granted  a  leave  of  absence,  and  I  turned  the  command 
over  to  Gen.  C.  W.  Sears.  I  remained  there  the  14th,  intend- 
ing to  leave  the  next  day,  but,  observing  a  movement  of  the 
enemy's  troops  on  the  15th,  remained  there  to  ascertain  his  in- 
tentions. Instead  of  a  denH)nstration,  it  proved  to  be  a  real 
attack.  1  remained  on  the  tield  all  day,  and  by  night  our  left 
was  forced  back  parallel  to  the  (xranny  White  pike.  By  noon 
on  the  16th  it  was  plain  tiiat  the  battle  was  lost,  and  in  the  after- 
noon I  was  advised  to  leave  to  avoid  (confusion  of  the  retreat. 
So,  with  my  two  aids,  we  started  for  the  Tennessee  river,  and 
crossed  it  at  Tuscumbia.  The  horses  were  given  the  servants  to 
ride  to  Columl)us,  Ga.,  and  we  left  by  train  for  the  same  city. 

The  history  of  the  ,\rmy  of  Tennessee  from  this  time  to  its 
surrender  on  A\n'i\  2."),  1S()5.  l»y  (icn.  ,J.  E.  Johnston  in  North 
Carolina  may  be  found  in  the  Win  Kecords.  Johnston  was 
placed  in  coiiiniMn<l  of  tliis  ;iiiny  again  at  the  request  of  the 
Confederate  Congi-ess  by  a  joint  rcsohitioii  that  was  passed. 


JloOD  TOO  JmI'ILFUVE.  303 

As  I  shall  here  probably  take  my  leave  of  Gen.  Hood,  I  de- 
sire to  say  that,  had  he  not  made  erroneous  statements  in  his 
reports  and  in  his  liook,  and  perverted  facts,  and  cast  reflections 
on  me  and  the  men  I  had  the  honor  to  connuand  at  Allatoona,  I 
would  have  kept  silent,  and  this  bioofraphy  would  never  have 
been  written;  but  he  and  (Jen.  Corse  have  obliged  me  to  vindi- 
<.*ate  the  truth  of  history  for  my  children  and  myself,  and  the 
Confederate  soldiers  that  1  had  the  honor  tt)  command. 

Gen.  Hood  was  a  noble  commander  of  a  division,  for  he  was 
indeed  a  brave  man;  but  as  the  commander  of  an  army,  circum- 
stanced as  the  Confederate  States  were,  he  was  too  impulsive. 
As  well  try  to  catch  all  the  fish  in  the  ocean  as  to  kill  all  the 
men  that  the  United  States  could  obtain,  or  recruit,  from  the 
nations  of  the  earth,  including  our  slaves,  for  the  bounty  of- 
fered. Constant  conflicts  entailed  losses  on  both  sides,  and  we 
had  no  men  to  sacrifice.  The  misfortune  in  part  was  that  he 
had  condemned  Johnston's  policy,  and  obeyed  him  reluctantly, 
and  felt  bound  when  he  superseded  him  to  carry  on  an  aggres- 
sive war,  and  in  doing  so  wrecked  the  Army  of  Tennessee. 

The  influence  of  personal  valor  in  an  officer  on  his  men  is  gen- 
erally limited  to  a  small  body  of  troops  that  witness  it;  whereas, 
victory  for  an  army  depends  on  the  KhlU  and  the  art  with  which 
the  impulsive  force  of  the  masses  is  united  on  the  field  of  battle, 
quickly  to  accomplish  an  object  and  destroy  the  plans  of  the  ene- 
my. By  the  art  of  skillful  maneuvering  an  army  may  be  obliged 
to  abandon  an  advanced  position  without  being  driven  out  at  the 
expense  of  life.  Hood  was  a  fighter;  but  he  was  not  able  by 
reason  of  his  wounds  to  undergo  the  lal)or  devolving  on  a  com- 
mander constantly  marching  and  fighting,  often  without  sup- 
plies. 

It  is  true  that  Marshal  Saxe,  carried  on  a  litter,  won  the  l)at- 
tle  of  Fontenoy;  that  ]VIulai  Malek,  Emperor  of  Morocco,  in  a 
dying  condition,  })lanned  his  last  battle,  and  was  carried  on  a 
litter  through  the  ranks  to  animate  the  men.  With  anguish  of 
mind  he  saw  some  of  his  troops  giving  way.  In  his  last  agonies 
he  collected  strength  of  life  enough  to  throw  himself  from  the 
litter,  and  rallied  them,  and  led  them  to  the  charge.  Exhausted, 
he  fell  on  the  field.  When  placed  again  on  the  litter,  he  laid  his 
finger  on  his  mouth  to  enjoin  secrecy  on  his  officers,  and  in  a 
moment  cxjjircd:   l»ut  he  won  the  victory.     These,  and  others  I 


304  7'if'o  W-ABs. 

remember,  are  exceptions,  but  it  is  not  safe  to  make  exceptions 
the  rule.* 

Hood's  physical  condition  sht)uld  have  been  considered  by  the 
authorities  before  he  was  placed  in  command,  and  the  question 
asked:  "'Has  he  ever  been  thrown  on  his  own  resources  to  pro- 
ride /o/-  and  d/'/vct  an  indej^endent  conunand^ ''  To  command  a 
corps  is  a  small  matter  compared  with  directing  a  campaiofn 
(against  a  superior  force)  often  without  supplies.  I  have  no  de- 
sire to  criticise  Hood's  movements,  and  will  only  remark  that  1 
am  not  able  to  see  why  he  interrupted  Gen.  Schofield  from  leaving 
Franklin  when  he  was  getting  away  as  fast  as  he  could.  That 
interference  cost  us  the  loss  of  nearly  .5,000  men,  the  flower  of 
the  army,  without  any  compensating  object  in  view  or  result 
likely  to  be  obtained  under  the  environments. 

Then  came  Nashville.  We  went  there  for  recruits  and  army 
supplies.  The  presence  of  our  poor,  worn-out,  and  badly 
clothed  troops  that  had  survived  the  late  battles  of  Peach  Tree 
Creek  of  fJuly  22  and  28  outside  of  Atlanta,  and  the  siege  of 
that  city,  Jonesboro,  Allatoona,  Franklin  and  many  smaller 
conflicts  consolidated  the  stream  of  reenforcements  sent  to 
Thomas  at  Nashville  until  it  became  a  formidable  army. 

As  a  river  on  its  course  when  stopped  by  a  dam  must  over- 
flow the  obstruction  or  sweep  it  away,  so  Thomas's  army  was 
gathering  force  to  overwhelm  ours,  which  received  no  addi- 
tional strength,  but  on  the  contrary  lost  some  at  Murfreesboro. 
On  the  walls  of  Hood's  tent  were  now  written:  ".4;?  (i/-/Ht/  fltut 
can  ohfdiii  no  recruits  must  eventiidJJy  siirrc/ider.^^  And  that  he 
could  not  interpret.  Then  the  tempest  came!  And  the  best 
reason  I  can  give  that  the  remnant  of  the  grand  Army  of  Ten- 
nessee so  successfully  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  is  that  CJen. 
Thomas  always  rode  his  horse  at  a  walk.  This  is  no  reflec- 
tion on  the  defense  of  our  rear  guard. 

I  remained  in  Columbus,  Ga.,  and  on  the  12th  of  rJanuary, 

*The  battle  of  Alcazar,  i-alled  the  "Battle  of  the  Three  Kings."  fought 
about  three  hundred  years  ago  between  Mulai,  the  emperor  of  Moroeeo, 
on  the  one  side,  and  his  nephew,  king  of  Fez,  on  the  other,  assisted  by 
Don  Sebastian,  king  of  Portugal,  under  whose  standard  had  Hocked  the 
nobility  of  Christian  Europe.  Mulai  Malek  had  40.000  Moorish  cavalry. 
Fifteen  thcMisaiid  of  the  allies  were  left  dead  on  the  tield.  and  the  river 
Machassan  ran  Vi-d  with  blood. 


Lee  SmnESDERs.  3('5 

1865,  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Abercroinliie,  daughter  of  Gen. 
Anderson  Abercrombie,  a  planter  in  Russell  County,  Ala.* 

Sherman  had  now  captured  Savannah,  and  was  marchinof  to 
join  (jrrant.  Then  came  the  surrender  of  (Jen.  Lee.  And  now 
Gen.  J.  H.  Wilson  was  nearing  Columbus.  To  escape  his  thiev- 
ing crowd,  I  started  on  Saturday,  April  1."),  in  a  carriage  with 
my  wife  to  take  her  to  Mrs.  CampbelTs,  in  Meriwether  County, 
Ga.,  some  twenty-tive  miles  above  Columbus.  We  remained 
that  night  in  town  with  Judge  G.  E.  Thomas,  and  started  next 
morning.  Gen.  Howell  Cobt)  was  in  command  of  the  troops  in 
Columbus,  and  he  asked  me  to  remain  and  take  the  command  of 
the  forces.  This  I  declined,  but  I  promised  to  return  Monday 
morning  and  aid  him.  About  1<>  a.m.  we  heard  cannon  at  Co- 
lumbus, and  knew  that  Wilson  had  attacked  the  town.  The  next 
morning  at  the  dawn  of  day  fugitives  from  Columbus  were  pass- 
ing by,  and  told  us  that  the  town  was  in  possession  of  the  Fed- 
erals. So  I  did  not  go  to  join  Gen.  Cobl).  However,  being 
anxious  to  know  the  condition  of  ati'airs,  I  asked  my  orderly, 
Hedrick,  if  he  would  next  morning  ride  down  in  the  direction 
of  the  city,  and  ascertain  the  condition  of  affairs,  and  he  said: 
"Yes,  General." 

Now  it  chanced,  soon  after  he  started,  that  Hedrick  met  a  Con- 

*  Gen.  Anderson  Abercrombie  was  adjutant  of  Maj.  Freeman's  battalion 
of  Georgia  volunteers.  U.  S.  army,  iu  the  war  of  1812.  Again  under  the 
command  of  Brig.  Gen.  John  Floj'd.  U.  S.  A.,  and  was  wounded  in  the 
battle  with  the  Creek  Indians  at  Camp  Defiance,  Ala.,  January  27,  1814. 

In  an  engagement  on  the  14th  of  July,  1864,  between  the  Confederate 
troops  under  Gen.  J.  H.  Clanton  and  the  Federal  forces  under  Gen.  Rous- 
seau, Miss  Abercrombie's  brother.  Capt.  Robert  S.  Abercrombie,  was 
mortally  wounded.  He  stood  in  the  road  alone,  whence  all  had  Hed,  save 
one  friend  beside  him  (Albert  Hyer),  whose  life  he  hatl  saved  in  battle, 
and  when  surrounded  and  begged  to  surrender  refuseil.  To  capture  him 
they  shot  him,  designedly  in  his  leg,  and  then  through  thoughtlessness 
let  him  bleed  to  death,  notwithstanding  there  was  a  tourniquet  in  his 
pocket,  and  Mr.  Hyer  had  another.  He  was  buried  under  a  red  oak  on 
Mr.  D.  Carroll's  place  on  the  Talladega  I'oad,  Calhoun  County,  Ala.,  one 
and  three-quarter  miles  from  Greensport,  within  a  half  mile  of  Ten  Island 
P.  O.,  on  the  beautiful  Coosa  river.  He  received  from  the  United  States 
officers  every  attention  to  save  his  life,  except  the  all-iiuportaut  one  of 
stopping  the  flow  of  blood  from  the  wound,  which  was  Inlaw  the  knee.  The 
great  loss  of  blood  was  not  noticeil  by  reason  of  so  much  water  poured 
on  the  wound.  Thus  perished  a  brave  man  whose  life  might  have  been 
saved. 

20 


30()  Two  ]Vabs. 

federate  soldier  who  told  him  that  the  Yankees  had  taken  the 
fort  at  West  Point,  (xa..  and  ffave  him  the  name  of  the  Federal 
otfieer  who  eommanded  the  expedition,  and  Hedrick's  sao^acity 
a})plied  the  information  to  the  accomplishment  of  his  purposes. 
Kidinof  on,  just  below  the  town  of  Hamilton,  he  suddenly  en- 
countered a  regiment  of  Federal  cavalry.  Without  hesitation  he 
rode  up  to  the  leading  officer,  and  inquired  for  Gen.  Wilson, 
saying  he  was  a  messenger  from  the  Federal  connnanding  officer 
at  West  Point,  sent  to  meet  Gen.  AVilson.*  He  was  directed  to 
go  on  to  Columbus.  About  a  mile  farther  on  two  cavalrymen  in 
a  skirt  of  Avood  cried  out  "  Halt,"  and  said:  "You  are  a  prison- 
er." He  told  them  the  story  of  his  having  ])een  sent  to  tind 
Gen.  Wilson.  They  were  doubtful,  and  one  said:  "  If  you  please, 
none  of  your  lilarney  to  us,  for  we  are  from  Quid  Ireland  itself, 
and  you  are  a  Johnnie  Rebel,  and  are  after  daceiven'  us,  you  are. 
Look  at  the  stripe  on  your  jacket."  Hedrick  explained  that  he 
could  not  ride  through  the  country  Avith  his  United  States  uni- 
form on,  and  that  his  clothing  was  taken  from  a  prisoner,  etc. 
'•  ]\Iike,"  said  one  of  them,  "of  course  he  could  not  wear  his  own 
coat,  and  I  am  sure  he  is  a  gentleman;  and  did  not  the  colonel 
himself  let  him  passim"  So  Pat  agreed  with  Mike,  and  Hedrick 
rode  on.  Next,  after  crossing  a  stream,  he  came  to  a  dwelling 
by  the  roadside:  the  owner  was  sitting  on  the  fence  l)y  the  front 
gate,  watching  for  more  Y'ankees  to  pass  l)y,  when  Hedrick  rode 
up  to  him  and  asked  if  he  could  have  dinner.  The  farmer  in- 
quired who  he  was;  and  he  varied  the  story  of  being  a  messen- 
ger to  suit  the  occasion,  by  saying  he  was  a  Yankee,  and  as  so 
many  Yankees  had  just  passed,  he  invited  him  into  his  house. 
His  daughters  hastily  prepared  a  dinner.  Hedrick  was  gracious, 
told  them  to  come  down  to  Columl)Us — send  down  chickens  and 
butter,  and  get  collee,  sugar,  and  nice  dresses — and  with  thanks 
departed.  About  a  mile  farther  on  he  was  stopped  by  a  number 
of  men  armed  with  shotguns  (in  (piest  of  stragglers),  farmers  in 
the  neighl)orhood,  who  also  inquired  who  he  was  and  where  he 
was  going.  He  said  that  he  w^as  my  orderly,  "sent  to  Colum))us  in 
quest  of  information."  They  did  not  ))elieve  him  until  one  of  the 
l)arty,  who  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Confederate  array,  asked 

*The  name  of  the  Federal  commander,  and  also  that  of  the  Confederate 
oHicer  who  so  n()l)ly  defended  tli<'  fori.  Iia\e  lieeii  tr'iven  in  a  ])revi()ns 
chapter. 


A  False  Alaum.  307 

liiiii.  '"How  lonir  liuM'  yoii  hecn  with  (icn.  French^  were  you 
■with  him  at  Sutlolk^  where  did  lie  have  his  headiiimrtersr"  etc., 
to  all  of  which  he  gave  true  answers.  The  lieuteuant,  who 
had  heeu  at  Sutiblk,  said,  '"Gentlemen,  he  is  all  right,  I  know, 
for  I  was  there:"'  and  so  Hedrick  journeyed  on.  Near  Columbus 
he  encountered  the  videttes,  rode  up,  and  asked  that  one  of  them 
should  be  sent  with  him  to  Gen.  Wilson's  headquarters.  The 
corporal  refused,  tellinof  him,  however,  where  he  would  find  the 
commandino-  officer.  It  was  dark  when  he  entered  the  city.  He 
rode  to  Judge  Thomas's,  remained  there  all  night,  and  saw  Gen. 
Wilson  leave  the  town  next  morning  riding  in  the  carriage  taken 
from  J.  C.  Cook.  After  the  troops  left  the  city  for  ]\lacon, 
Hedrick  rode  back  to  Mrs.  CampbelTs  and  related  to  me  his  ad- 
ventures. 

Two  days  after  we  started  for  Columl)us,  and  l>elow  Hamil- 
ton, we  found  that  lieutenant  and  a  squad  of  men  still  guarding 
the  road.  He  asked  me  if  I  had  sent  my  orderly  to  Columbus. 
On  my  answering  that  I  did  send  him,  the  maddest  man  in  the 
crowd  was  the  one  who,  when  he  sat  on  the  fence,  had  bidden 
his  daughters  to  give  the  Yankee  a  dinner.  He  swore  he  '*  would 
shoot  Hedrick  for  deceiving  him;"  and  while  I  w^as  remonstra- 
ting with  him  Hedrick,  who  was  behind,  rode  over  the  hill  and 
was  recognized  by  the  irate  man,  who  exclaimed:  "Yonder  the 
rascal  comes."  He  was  warned  by  his  party  to  be  quiet.  Hed- 
rick passed  us,  raising  his  cap  to  the  crowd,  bowed  smilingly, 
and  passed  on.  Poor  Hedrick,  without  occasion,  and  for  mere 
adventure,  ran  the  risk  of  being  captured  as  a  spy  in  Columbus. 

When  we  were  at  Mrs.  Campljell's  the  Federal  cavalry  sev- 
eral times  was  near  by  and  kept  the  ladies  alarmed,  and  as  for 
myself  I  was  not  inclined  to  be  captured  and  carried  ofl',  if  it 
could  l)e  avoided.  Our  horses  were  kept  saddled  to  leave,  and 
several  times  word  was  sent  us  that  raiding  parties  were  on  the 
road.  Tired  of  these  alarms,  we  were  at  dinner,  when  some  one 
rode  by  and  said  :  "The  Yankees  are  coming."  One  of  the  la- 
dies went  to  the  front  door,  and  came  back  screaming.  I  went 
to  the  gate,  and  like  a  whirlwind  came  a  cloud  of  dust,  and  be- 
neath it  I  thought  I  saw  the  feet  of  cavalry  horses;  but  in  half 
a  minute,  at  full  run,  passed  by  about  forty  loose  mules  driven 
))y  negro  men  at  their  heels  wildly  shouting.  For  three  "days 
Hedrick  and  the  servants  were  camped  out  in  the  woods  lest  our 


308  Two  Wars. 

horses  should  be  stolen  at  night.  It  was  so  demoralizing  that  1 
returned  to  Columbus,  where  there  was  a  Federal  orarrison^ 
passed  through  the  town,  and  returned  to  Gen.  Abercromlne's. 

AVhile  w^e  were  gone — as  I  anticipated — nine  of  Wilson's  bum- 
mers quietly  surrounded  the  dwelling  of  Gen.  Abercroml)ie 
(near  Columbus),  and  entered  the  grounds  from  ditierent  direc- 
tions. The  General  was  sitting  in  a  chair  on  the  front  gallery 
by  the  door,  and  the  tirst  intimation  he  had  that  the  thieves  were 
at  work  was  a  hand  from  behind  him  passed,  snakelike,  over 
his  shoulder  and  down  to  his  vest  pocket  to  get  his  watch;  for- 
tunately, he  had  placed  it  where  it  was  safe.  In  a  few  minute* 
those  in  the  house  went  through  every  wardrobe,  bureau,  closet, 
etc.  They  took  all  the  silverware  and  jewelry.  While  this  wa& 
being  done  the  two  guards  in  the  rear  entered  the  large  out 
kitchen,  where  ''old  Aunty  Minty,"  the  negro  cook,  had  pre- 
sided for  tifty  years,  and  screamed  out:  "Get  us  something  for 
dinner,  (juick."'  The  good  old  soul  was  scared  half  out  of  her 
wits,  and  raised  her  hands,  pleading  for  mercy.  "Get  some 
ham  and  eggs  for  us  quick,  quick,  you  old  dunce."  The  stove 
was  hot.  and  she  cooked  some  with  the  turn  of  a  hand.  In  a 
minute  the  platter  was  empty,  and  they  demanded  of  her  to 
"bring  on  the  piexy  She  called  on  all  the  saints  to  witness  that 
she  had  no  />//.v,'  the  rascals  swore  they  "never  saw  a  house  as- 
l)ig  as  that  was  that  did  not  have  jnrs-  in  it."  However,  the  pie 
question  was  settled  by  the  captain  of  the  band  shouting  "Come 
on,"  and  they  mounted  their  horses  with  their  plunder,  and  left 
for  other  Helds.  Then  "' Aunty"  came  into  the  house  and  told 
her  mistress:  "Them  is  the  meanest  people  I  ever  did  see." 

When  my  overseer  left  the  plantation  with  the  negroes  for 
Columbus,  he  packed  up  my  Brussels  linen  and  best  China,  and 
took  them  with  him,  and  left  them  at  Judge  Thomas's  house. 
The  evening  Columbus  was  taken.  Mrs.  Thomas  was  sitting  by 
a  parlor  window,  and  seeing  some  men  in  the  yard,  she  asked^ 
"Who  are  you  there T'  and  the  reply  was,  "Yanks;  you  did 
not  expect  us  so  soon,  did  you  T"  They  icrnt  throufjli  every- 
thing in  the  house  in  a  jirty.  fludge  Thomas  with  them.  By  his 
engaging  manners  he  got  them  l»y  tiie  baggage  room,  and  saved 
things  there.  But  they  can-ied  my  chest  of  crockery  out  of  the 
hasciiicnt.  thinking  they  had  a  prize;  but  when  they  found  only 
Chiii.'i  thcv  foiiiiiiciiccd  l)r('!iking  it.  Imt  desisted  at  Mi's.  Thoin- 


The  War  h:Ni)Ei>.  309 

as's  request.  These  men  heciiine  experts  from  l()n<r  practice, 
and  generally  knew  where  to  look  for  hidden  treasures.  "'As 
the  hart  panteth  after  the  water  brooks,"  so  the  hearts  of  these 
hirelings  panted  for  plunder. 

When  the  Yankees  first  went  to  my  plantation,  in  five  minutes  a 
company  of  aliout  thirty  men  marched  into  the  orarden,  formed 
line,  fixed  bayonets,  and,  marchino;  abreast,  probed  the  ground 
until  they  struck  a  box  that  was  buried  there  containing  silver 
tableware.  But  in  this  case  I  am  sure  "old  Aaron,"  a  house 
servant  who  ))uried  it  for  mother,  betrayed  her  contidence  in 
him  and  told  the  Yanks  where  it  was.  These  are  small  matters, 
but  I  mention  them  to  show  how  the  men,  by  the  connivance  of 
ofhcers,  if  not  by  participation,  l)ecame  an  army  of  thieves  gen- 
erally. 

In  a  day  or  two  authenticated  information  was  received  that 
both  Lee's  and  eJohnston's  armies  had  been  surrendered  on 
terms  of  agreement,  and  as  I  was  included  in  the  latter  army,  I 
went  to  Columljus  and  ol)tained  my  parole.  The  terms  of  the 
surrender  were  that  we  were  not  to  be  molested  hy  the  United 
Sidtes  authorities  so  long  as  we  obeyed  the  laws  which  were  in 
force  previous  to  January,  1861,  where  we  resided. 

On  my  part,  I  was  sworn  "not  to  bear  arms  against  the  United 
States  of  America,  or  give  any  information,  or  do  any  military 
duty  or  act  in  hostility  to  the  United  States,  or  inimical  to  a 
permanent  peace,"  etc.,  and  thus  the  war  witJi  the  lauxhet  ended. 

On  reading  my  parole  1  discovered  what  seemed  to  me  a 
j>etty  tHcl\  for  it  read  "  not  to  )>e  disturbed  by  the  United  States 
inititary  authorities,'^  leaving  me  at  the  mercy  of  the  civil  au- 
thorities to  ])e  indicted.  I  was  informed  those  were  the  paroles 
sent  them  to  be  used  in  Cohimbus.  It  must  have  been  a  mis- 
print. 


CHAPTEK   \IX. 

Aspect  of  the  Country  at  Termination  of  the  War— Tlie  Returned  Confed- 
erate Soldier — Carpet bagf^ers — I^ineoln's  Vow — His  Proclamation  Con- 
cerning Confiscation  of  Slaves — How  the  Slaves  Were  Legally  Liberated 
— Lincoln  Mui'dered — Johnson  President — His  Thirst  for  Vengeance — 
••Treason  "  to  Be  Made  Odious — Grant  Declared  That  the  Paroles  Must 
Not  Be  Violated — Cost  of  a  Bill  of  Dry  Goods  in  Confederate  Money  in 
1864— Leave  Columbus  for  Greenville,  Miss. — Desolate  Home — The 
Good  Israelite — Return  to  Columbus — I  Go  with  Mrs.  French  to  Missis- 
sippi— Traveling  Incognito  a  Failure — Journey  to  New'  York  in  1865 — In- 
cidents of  My  Mother  and  Child  When  They  Went  Noi-th — Home  Confis- 
cated— Edward  Cooper's  Kind  Act — No  One  Would  Touch  Mother's 
Trunks — Copy  of  a  Contract  in  1865.  Whereby  I  Obtained  Funds — Peo- 
ple under  Espionage  at  the|North — Return  to  the  Plantation — Northern 
Plan  to  Terminate  the  War. 

IF  a  mail  liad  ascended  one  of  the  lofty  peaks  of  the  Southern 
Appahichian  chain  of  mountains  at  the  termination  of  the 
war,  and  been  endowed  with  telescopic  powers  of  vision  extend- 
intr  for  hundreds  of  miles  in  every  direction,  he  would  have 
V)eheld  the  wreck  of  '•  the  storm-cradled  nation"  that  fell  in  de- 
fense of  the  rijarhts  that  they  possessed  under  the  constituticm 
of  1787-88,  which  was  shaped,  and  established,  and  agreed  to, 
by  the  States  forming  the  convention.  As  far  as  such  vision 
c-oiijd  extend,  that  once  l)eautiful  country  was  almost  desolate  and 
silent;  the  l)usy  hum  of  industry  had  ceased,  the  daily  smoke  of 
burning  buildings,  the  marching  of  armies,  and  the  dull  sound 
of  distant  cannon  terminated;  railroads  had  l)een  destroyed, 
bridges  were  l)in-ned,  many  w^agon  roads  were  inipas.saWle:  agri- 
culture had  nearly  ceased,  draft  animals  had  been  taken  for  war 
])uri)()ses:  the  flower  of  the  South,  with  its  pride  of  ancestors, 
liad  ••  fallen  foremost  in  the  tight;"  the  noble  women  were  al- 
most paralyzed  in  mind,  ready  to  doubt  the  existence  of  a  just 
(Jod  who  seemingly  had  been  deaf  to  their  prayers,  and  made 
fatherless  their  little  children;  four  million  slaves  sat  idle 
around  their  decaying  cabins,  impressed  with  the  prevailing  idea 
that  freedom  meant  to  do  as  they  pleased,  and  not  work  any 
more;  provisions  were  scarce,  and  the  whole  scene  was  a  pic- 
ture of  war's  desolation  ;ind  misery. 


Faith  in  thh  Pa/^oll:  311 

I  can  call  to  mind  the  (k'li«rlit  I  experienced  when  readin<r 
that  wonderful  description  l)y  Burke  of  the  desolation  of  the 
Carnatic,  in  India,  ])y  the  Initcher  Ilyder  Ali,  in  years  long 
passed;  or  with  sorrowful  heart  the  desolation  of  the  Palati- 
nate by  tlie  French  troops  by  order  of  Louvois,  but  I  am  not 
aware  of  any  Northern  pen  havino;  told  the  story  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  beautiful  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah*  in  Virginia  by 
Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  though  it  be  a  theme  as  sad  as  the  one 
immortalized  by  the  genius  of  Burke. 

Hyder  Ali  left  nothing  in  the  Carnatic  that  drew  the  breath 
of  life;  Sheridan  left  nothing  in  the  Valley  for  a  crow  to  feed 
on — as  stated  in  his  official  report,  wherein  he  writes  that  "a 
crow  could  not  cross  the  Valley  without  carrying  his  provisions 
with  him." 

It  is  true,  hoAvever,  that  you  can  find  in  some  of  the  Northern 
school  books  a  beautiful  poem  entitled  "Sheridan's  Ride,"  as 
mythical  as  Barbara  Frietchie;  still  there  are  in  the  true  story 
stmie  incidents  not  unlike  those  in  Burns's  "Tarn  O'Shanter" 
that  kept  "Sheridan  far  away." 

And  now  the  surviving  Confederate  soldier  returned  to  what 
was  once  his  happy  home.  He  had  faith  in  the  terms  of  his  jj(C- 
role,  that  he  was  "not  to  be  molested  by  the  United  States  au- 
thorities as  long  as  he  obeyed  the  laws  of  1861."  Inured  to 
hardships  incident  to  a  soklier's  life,  he  was  well  equipped  to 
become  an  industrious,  peaceful  citizen;  he  had  stormed  fortifi- 
cations, captured  batteries,  marched  up  to  the  cannon's  deadly 
mouth  without  tremor,  passed  days  without  rest  and  nights 
without  sleep,  subsisted  on  parched  corn,  been  frost-bitten  by 
cold,  and  burned  by  the  torrid  sun.  His  bare  feet  had  left  their 
prints  in  l)lood  on  the  rocks,  and  crimsoned  the  snow  on  many 
a  wintry  march;  he  had  stopped  the  marauder  in  his  path,  and 
turned  the  enemy  from  his  course;  he  had  tempted  the  ocean  in 
its  wrath,  and  driven  off  its  waters  the  enemy's  commercial 
sails.  All  that  man  dares  he  had  done.  And  now  in  adversity, 
almost  naked,  with  unending  toil  before  him,  he  conunenced 
life  anew,  and  went  manfully  to  work  with  hope  for  the  joy  of 
peace,  little  thinking  of  the  degradation,  insults,  humiliations, 
oppressions,  robbery,  extortions  he  and  his  family  would  be 

*Shen-an-(lo-afi  means  the  •Bright  Daughter  of  the  Stars." 


312  Tno  Wars. 

suhjocU'd  lo  (luriiiir  the  coniiiifr  years,  caused  by  revenireful 
loirislation.  And  now  behold  liiiii  even  sreater  in  peace  than 
in  war  I 

The  phuKler  obtained  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  army  had 
so  wlictted  the  avaricious  spirit  of  those  who  had  furnished  sub- 
stitutes for  theuiselves,  that  they  were  bent  on  havin<r  their 
share  of  the  spoils;  and  the  politicians,  anxious  to  ride  into  i)laco 
and  power,  to  that  end  resorted  to  more  machinations  than 
ISIachiavelli  ever  dreamed  of  in  his  advice  to  the  prince. 

By  the  daily  trains  came  men,  ofenerally  from  the  Eastern 
States,  in  every  orarb,  and  they  walked  alonof  the  streets  in  sin- 
gle tile  in  ({uest  of  cheap  hotels  and  boarding  houses,  and  the 
ix-sigiiia  of  their  nrdcr  was  a  carpetbao:,  and  their  interests  and 
tastes — not  their  sympathy — |)rompted  them  to  associate  with 
the  freedmen,  considering  themselves  just  as  good  and  honora- 
ble as  the  ''Wards  of  the  Nation." 

You  must  not  deem  it  out  of  i)lace  if  I  here  make  mention  of 
some  incidents  that  occurred  pretty  early  in  the  war. 

In  the  Hil)le  we  read  how  ,Jephthah  vowed  a  vow  unto  the  Lord 
that  if  he  would  deliver  the  children  of  Amnion  into  his  hands  he 
would  do  certain  things.  So  Lincoln  made  a  solemn  \()wl)efore 
God  that  if  Gen.  Lee  were  driven  back  from  Maryland  he  would 
set  the  .'<l<ivc.sfrt'e.  After  "Antietam  "  he  announced  his  hifenfloti 
of  issuing,  and  on  September  22, 1862.  he  did  issue,  a  proclama- 
tion setting  free,  by  his  miUtorii  (nithoiuf!/^  all  the  slaves  in  the 
rebel  States.  He  still  founded  his  action  on  ''policy  and  the 
Constitution."  *  As  the  Confederate  States  did  not  return  to  the 
I'nion  as  reipiired  in  his  September  proclamation,  on  .January 
1,  LS68,  he  issued  his  emancipation  proclamation,  the  slaves  ha\- 
ing  been  confiscated  by  Act  of  Congress  in  1862. 

The  act  of  conliscation  and  the  President's  proclamation  eman- 
cipating the  slaves  in  the  Confederacy  could  not  abolish  slavery, 
because  it  existed  under  the  hiu's  of  f/,r  Sfafis.  \i  could  alter 
no  State  law.  still  it  did  atiect  slavery  in  this  way:  it  caused 
slaves  to  leave  their  owners,  and  to  this  extent  diminished  their 
property  and  their  weallh.  but  under  the  laws  they  could  piii- 
chase  othei-s. 

The  great  imdelined  latent  |)o\ver  of  the  Constitution  is  eni- 

*(;ol<l\viii   Smith 


The  War  a  Family  Affaih.  313 

Tjodied  in  Article  I.,  Section  S:  "To  provide  foi'  the  eoninion 
■defense  and  srenerai  welfare."  I'nder  this  section  ahnost  all  the 
outrages  of  the  war  were  conunitted.  restrained  oidv  l>y  inter- 
national rules  of  war:  l>ut  tiiese  were  ignored  under  the  plea 
that  the  war  was  only  a  rebellion  -quite  a  family  affair,  and 
would  soon  be  settled.  lender  this  article  also  is  found  the 
power  to  tax  to  nwj  anutunt  ""  for  the  coinnion  defense  and  pub- 
lic welfare." 

The  confiscation  act  of  Congress  was  unconstitutional.  Ed 
Burke,  in  the  Warren  Hastings  trial,  said:  ''  I  do  not  know  the 
method  of  drawing  up  the  indictment  against  a  whole  people."' 
The  Constitution  dechirex  that  the  ''trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in 
cases  of  impeachment,  shall  be  by  jury."'  But  this  confiscation 
act  punished  a  ""  whole  i)eo))le""  without  indictment,  ti'ial  l)y  jury, 
or  conviction. 

As  the  slave  owners  were  called  the  only  2>^''''-^il^9^d  class  in 
the  United  States,  it  is  pertinent  to  inquire  if  this  class  of  peo- 
ple did  not  exist  in  all  the  States  when  the  Union  Avas  formed, 
and  if  they  of  the  North  did  not  sell  their  claim  to  a  privileged 
class  for  a  "mess  of  pottage""  and  then  howle<l  at  the  pur- 
chasers for  ])eing  a  privileged  class!  Who  demanded  the  enlarge- 
ment of  slavery  by  making  it  legal  to  steal  or  purchase  negroes 
from  Africa  until  the  year  1808,  to  give  employment  to  the  six 
hundred  slave  ships  owned  in  the  North — in  New  York  and  New 
England.  We  know  the  town  of  Newport,  R.  1. — now  the 
al)ode  of  wealth — in  the  year  1750  had  one  hundred  and  seventy 
ships  engaged  in  the  slave  trade  for  "the  love  of  money." 

A  question  presents  itself  here — and  it  is  a  pertinent  one, 
for  it  commences  at  the  beginning  of  this  whole  matter  of 
modern  slavery  in  this  country:  Who  ^p'r.^t  oiiyned  these  slaves, 
how  did  they  obtain  them,  how  did  they  treat  them,  and  to  whom 
did  they  sell  these  human  l)eings  for  money,  and  then  wath  the 
price  of  blood  in  their  pockets  soon  began  to  howd  against  the 
sin  of  slavery,  and  thank  the  God  they  served  that  they  were  not 
slaveholders  any  longer '.  * 

It  has  been  said  by  a  Northern  writer  that  ""indirectly,  and 

*I  commend  to  you  an  article  published  in  the  Septemlwr  (j'ear  1900) 
number  of  Scrilnie?''.'^  Magazine,  page  l-}03.  giving  an  account  of  the  treat- 
ment of  slaves  by  their  owners  North:  also  an  account  of  the  last  slave 
-ship  captured  by  the  United  States  navy  [Century  Magazine  for  May.  1894). 


314  Two  Wal'S. 

for  the  ])iir]i()se  of  a  more  eiiual  distrihutioii  of  direct  taxes,  the 
framers  of  tlie  Constitution  tohi-ntciL  while  tliev  eondemned, 
sla\ery.  liut  ihev  tolei'ated  it  because  they  l»elie\'ed  it  would  soon 
disappear.  They  even  refused  to  allow  the  charter  of  their  own 
liberties  to  he  polluted  l)y  the  mention  of  the  word  'slave.'"  But 
take  heed:  did  not  this  con\('ntion  g'ive  ear  to  the  clamor  of  the 
owners  of  slave  shi})s  and  slaves  theron  to  continue  for  twenty 
years  lonirf r  to  increase  slavery  and  increase  tiieir  wealth  by  en- 
slaving free  people  in  Africa^ 

No,  "'they  could  not.  consistently  with  honor  or  self-respect^ 
transmit  to  future  ages  the  evidence  that  some  of  them  had  tram- 
pled on  the  inalienable  rights  of  others." 

""Though  slavery  was  tolerated  by  being  ignored,  we  should 
not  dishonor  the  memory  of  those  who  organized  that  govern- 
ment to  suppose  that  they  di<l  not  intend  to  bestow  upon  it  the 
power  to  maintain  its  own  authority  the  riglit  to  overthrow  or 
remove  slavery  or  laJudecer  might  prove  fatal  to  its  permanence 
or  destroy  its  usefulness." 

To  this  the  answer  is  yes.  But  the  proper  mode  of  removing 
it  is  the  real  question.  It  sliould  not  be  by  inaking  war,  laying 
waste  the  covmtry,  burning  all  ])ublic  buildings  and  dwelling 
houses,  sinking  ships,  l)lockading  ports,  killing,  wounding,  and 
capturing  soldiers,  creating  debts,  levying  taxes,  exposing  our 
soldiers  to  deadly  battle  and  all  the  horrors  of  war — but  by  re- 
moving the  evil  by  compensation  ''for  the  term  of  service"  of 
the  slaves  to  their  owners. 

This  government  is  under  obligation  to  compensate,  and  does 
compensate,  parents,  masters  of  apprentices,  masters  of  slaves, 
for  service  and  lal)or  of  those  subjects  who  are  enlisted  in  the 
array  and  navy,  for  the  Constitution  recognizes  slaves  as  "'per- 
sons held  to  labor  or  service."  Removal  by  compensation  might 
have  prevented  the  war. 

England  compelled  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  her  colonies,, 
and  she  paid  in  compensation  for  services,  to  the  slave  ow'ners, 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  million  dollars.  Out  of  this,  for  in- 
stance, Cape  Colony  obtained  fifteen  million  dollars,  which  was 
a>)Out  ff)ur  hundred  dollars  ])er  slave. 

If  slavery  was  believed  to  be  faUil  to  the  i)ermanence  of  the 
Union,  it  could  have  been  removed  by  compensation,  as  in  the 
case  of  England,  and  not  by  hatred  and  fanaticism. 


Confiscation.  SIS- 

View  it  {IS  we  may,  the  fact  exists  that  the  oonliscation  act, 
althoiicrh  unconstitutional,  did,  in  eti'ect,  roh  tiie  Southern  peo- 
ple of  about  two  thousand  million  dollars  (^!^,(KM),u(»0,U()()),  com- 
putinof  four  million  slaves  at  five  hundred  dollars  each,  which  is 
only  about  half  their  value;  and  this  was  done  as  a  punishment 
for  secession.  In  law  it  was  void;  but  the  property  was  of  such 
a  character  that  it  became  useless  to  the  owners,  because  it  was 
enticed  away.  So  this  act  and  Lincoln's  proclamation  caused 
the  slaves  to  leave  their  owners.  And  so  without  a  crime,  with- 
out an  indictment,  without  a  trial  by  jury  or  conviction,  this 
property  was  taken  from  the  owners.  It  was  the  laro;est  steal 
ever  committed  l)y  a  nation;  and,  furthermore,  they  stole  fron] 
the  South  slaves  that  they  had  sold  the  South.  Call  it  by  what 
name  you  will,  it  was  robbery.  It  exceeds  in  maofnitude,  in 
money  value,  any  of  the  invasions  of  India,  from  Genghis  Khan 
down  to  the  English  East  India  Company;  or  the  robbery  of 
the  proconsuls  of  Rome;  or  the  wealth  Spain  derived  from  Mex- 
ico and  Peru  by  the  infamous  acts  of  Cortez  and  Pizarro.  And, 
after  all,  the  loss  from  confiscating  the  ""labor'*  of  the  slaves, 
gi'eat  as  it  is,  becomes  but  one  item  of  loss  to  which  the  South- 
ern people  were  subjected. 

It  would  perhaps  be  unjust  for  me  to  assign  the  inducements 
that  moved  Mr.  Lincoln  to  issue  this  proclamation,  considering 
Congress  had  already  contiscated  them.  I  do  not  know  if  pos- 
session of  property  is,  or  is  not,  necessary  before  it  can  be  sold 
V>y  confiscation.*     If  a  slave  not  in  possession  of  the  United 

*The  question  of  confiscating  property,  especially  slaves,  and  setting 
them  free  will  be  found  in  the  War  Records.  Series  3,  Vol.  I.,  Serial  No. 
114,  from  page  749  to  page  822.  This  correspondence,  and  orders,  show 
that  in  1861  and  part  of  1862  ''confiscation  by  act  of  Congress  limited  the 
penalty  to  property  actually  employed  in  the  service  of  the  rebellion  with 
the  knowledge  and  consent  of  its  owners,  and  instead  of  emancipating 
slaves  thns  employed  left  their  stains  to  be  determined  either  by  the  courts 
of  the  UiiitCAl  States  or  by  subsequent  legislation."  (See  Holt's  opinion  to 
President  Lincoln,  page  768.  etc.)  This  was  legitimate  war.  However,  the 
want  of  success  changed  all  this,  and  the  proclamation  of  May  19,  1862, 
not  being  complied  with,  the  war  ceased  to  be  confined  to  the  troops  in 
the  ti^ld,  and  degenerated  into  one  of  robbery,  plunder,  destruction  of 
private  pi'operty  to  reduce  the  South  to  subjugation.  To  this  end  slaves 
were  told  they  were  free,  and  178,975  were  mustered  into  the  United  States- 
army,  armed,  and,  thus  encouraged,  employed  to  fight  their  owners.    The 


316  Tm'o  Wars. 

^States  marshal,  heintr  in  tlio  interior  of  the  Confederacy,  can  be 
contiscatcd,  then  also  could  all  property  be  contiscated  by  a  pa- 
per bulletin  posted  on  the  wall.  But  in  that  proclamation  there 
was  a  sinister  object  in  view,  and  that  was  to  array  against  the 
Confederate  States  the  sympathies  of  the  Christian  world,  by 
tryinof  to  make  it  appear  that  we  made  the  war  in  defense  of, 
and  to  perpetuate,  slavery.  Others  there  are  who  think  that  the 
'"■  loyal  irovernors ' ■  who  met  at  Altoona,  Pa.,  obtained  it  by  in- 
sidious threats.  But,  be  this  as  it  may,  the  proclamation,  as  a 
lesral  paper,  was  worthless.  The  slaves  were  afterwards  leofally 
emancipated  by  the  several  States,  by  the  thirteenth  amendment 
to  the  Constitution,  and  by  taking  the  oath  prescril)ed  in  the 
President's  proclamation,  dated  May  29,  1865;  and  all  the  own- 
ers of  slaves  who  were  worth  twenty  thousand  dollars,  being 
disfranchised,  had  to  make  oath  '*uot  hereafter,  at  any  time,  to 
acquire  any  property  whatever  in  slaves,  or  make  use  of  slave 
labor,  or  make  claim  for  slaves  liberated."  The  numerous  oaths 
and  various  proceedings  required  to  set  the  negro  legally  free, 
and  make  it  binding,  remind  me  of  many  loyal  friends  in  the 
North  going  before  some  judicial  officer  and  renewing  their 
oaths  of  allegiance  every  new  moon,  to  make  it  sure  and  clear 
by  accunmlated  recorded  evidence. 

When  Jephthah  made  his  vow  there  was  no  power  to  restrain 
him  from  fultillingit.  Lincoln  could  not  perform  his:  he  was  not 
an  abolitionist  from  principle,  and  there  is  very  much  evidence 
that  he  was  not  in  favor  of  emancipation;  his  proclamation  set 
free  (on  paper)  only  the  slaves  in  a  part  of  the  Confcderatt 
States^  leaving  slavery  untouched  in  the  United  States.  That 
is,  the  Yankees  retained  slavery  in  Delaware.  Maryland,  Ken- 
tucky, and  Missouri,  and  part  of  Louisiana  and  the  Xti/-f/i,  and 
tried  to  abolish  it  where  they  could  not.  and  maintained  it  where 
they  could  Inire  tdiolihlied  it.  At  this  malignant  confiscation  of 
the  slaves  '--/'///  in  the  Confederacy.  Fanucil  Hall  went  wild  with 
delight,  and  Lxeter  Hall,  England,  was  jubilant. 

I  have  no  desire  to  discuss  annexation  (reconstruction)  here, 
and  hasten  on,  only  to  relate  some  of  my  experiences  under  it, 
so  that  you  may  know  the  patience,  forbearance,  and  charity  of 

South  did  not  arm  a  slave  to  kill  white  men.  There  was  a  marked  par- 
allel ijetween  the  treatment  of  the  noncoml)atants  of  the  South  anfl  that 
of  the  noiiconibatants  of  (^itbn  \)\  the  S])aiiiards. 


Ord's  Manly  Reply.  317 

the  Southern  people  under  persecution.  No  one  possessing 
knowledofe  has  a  riofht  to  withhold  it  from  his  fellow-men,  if  it 
will  be  valuable  to  them;  and  so  I  write. 

And  now  came  reconstruction  (annexation),  with  all  its  evils. 
President  Aliraham  I^incoln  had  been  foully  murdered,  and 
Vice  President  "Andy"  Johnson  reiscned  in  his  stead. 

It  is  stated  that  he  disliked  the  retined  and  best  class  of  people 
in  the  South;  and  now,  in  authority,  he  thirsted  for  venofeance 
against  them.  He  declared  that  "treason  should  bemadeodious,"^ 
and  would  have  arrested  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee  and  other  Confederate 
army  officers  and  punished  them  if  possible,  had  not  Oen.  Grant 
declared  that  they  could  not  be  moles^ted  without  violating  the 
paroles  he  had  given  them,  and  so  prosecution  was  abandoned 
and  persecution  substituted,  as  will  be  shown  after  a  while. 

Having  surrendered  and  signed  a  written  agreement,  and 
made  oath  to  the  same,  I  desired  to  go  to  my  home  in  Mississippi, 
as  stipulated  in  the  parole. 

Gen.  Grant's  declaration  that  his  })aroles  could  not  be  vio- 
lated seems  to  have  been,  with  him,  an  after  thought,  as  the  fol- 
lowing telegram  will  show: 

WA.SfnNGT()N  City,  April  15,  1865.  4  p.m. 
Maj.  Gen.  Ord,  Richmond,  Va. 

Arrest  J.  A.  Campbell,  Mayor  Mayo,  and  the  members  of  the  old  coun- 
cil of  Richmond  who  have  not  yet  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  put 
them  in  Libby  prison.  Hold  them  guarded  beyond  the  possibility  of  es- 
cape until  further  orders.  Also  arrest  all  paroled  officers  and  surgeons- 
until  they  can  be  sent  beyond  our  lines,  unless  they  take  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance. The  oath  need  not  be  received  from  any  one  who  you  have  not 
good  reasons  to  believe  will  observe  it,  and  from  none  who  are  excluded 
hy  the  President's  proclamation,  without  authority  to  do  so.  Extreme 
vigor  will  have  to  be  obsei'ved  while  assassination  remains  the  order  of 
the  day  with  the  Rebels.  U.  S.  Grant,  Lieutenant  Oeneral. 

Here  is  Ord's  manly  answer: 

Richmond,  Va.,  April  15.  1805. 

Gen.  U.  S.  Grant. 

Cipher  dispatch  directing  certain  parties  to  l)e  arrested  is  received. 
The  two  citizens  I  have  seen.  They  are  old,  nearly  helpless,  and  I  think 
incapable  of  harm.  Lee  and  staff  are  in  town  among  the  paroled  prison- 
ers. Should  I  arrest  them  under  the  circumstances,  I  think  the  rebellion 
here  would  be  opened. 

/  will  risk  iny  life  that  the  present  paroles  will  be  kept,  and,  if  you  will 
allow  me  to  do  so,  trust  the  people  here,  who,  I  believe,  are  ignorant  of 
the  assassination  done  by  some  insane  Brutus  with  but  few  accomplices. 


S18  Two  Wars. 

C'ampliell  and  Hunter  prosseil  me  earnestly  yesterday  to  send  theiH  to 
Washington  to  see  the  President.  Would  they  have  done  so  if  guilty? 
Please  answer.  E.  ().  C.  Oku.  Majoi  (icmi-al. 

HK.VlK^dAKTKKS  AkMV   OF  THE  UxiTEU  STATES.   / 

^^'As^lX(;T<)^•.  April  15.  1865,  8  p.m.       S 
Maj.  Gen.  Ord,  Rielimoiid,  \a. 

On  rerteetion  I  will  withdraw  my  dispatch  of  this  date  directing  the  ar- 
rest of  Campbell.  Mayo,  and  others,  and  leave  it  in  the  light  of  a  sugges- 
tion, to  be  executeil  only  so  far  as  you  may  judge  the  good  of  the  service 
demands.  U.  S.  (jKANT,  Lieutenant  General. 

RiCH.AioNi).  Va.,  April  15.  18(55.  9:80  v.s\. 

[Received  at  10:20  r.M.] 
Lieut.  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant. 

Second  telegram,  leaving  the  subject  of  arrests  in  my  hands,  is  received. 

E.  O.  C.  Okd.  M<tjor  (hncral* 

It  wa.s  after  this  date  that  Grant,  on  reflection,  turned  around 
and  informed  the  President  that  the  paroles  he  gave  at  Appo- 
mattox should  not  be  broken;  that  he  would  defend  them.  All 
honor  to  him  for  this!  And  greater  honor  to  Gen.  Ord,  who 
pledged  ///.v  ///^  for  the  honor  of  the  Southern  men  who  were 
paroled  1 

The  tirst  matter  to  claim  consideration  was  money.  I  had  in 
gold  a  five-dollar  piece  and  in  Confederate  notes  a  few  thousand 
dolhirs.  The  purchasing  power  of  the  latter  may  be  ascertained 
from  a  bill  made  by  Miss  Abercrombie,  now  my  wife,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  true  copy: 

Miss  Abercrombie. 

To  Goodrich  Ar  Co. 

.Sei)tember  23.     \  yd.  Crape $      20  00 

October         7.     1  Hoop  Skirt 100  00 

7.     14  yds.  French  Merino  (Blk.)  (a  $87.50 1.225  00 

7.14  yds.  Blk.  Rep  fn  $25 350  00 

14.     20  Blk.  Calico  @  $10 200  00 

1  Blk.  Crape 40  00 

Total $1,935  GO 

Columbu.s,  Ga.,  October  14,  18ti4. 

As  I  had  no  means  to  ])urchase  tickets  over  the  railroads,  I 
applied  to  the  Qtiartermaster,  U.  S.  A.,  for  transportation  for 
myself,  two  servants,  and  two  horses,  which  was  furnished  me. 

It  was  sometime  in  May  that  we  started  for  home  via  Mont- 

*See  War  Records,  Vol.  XL\'I..  Sci-ics  1,  ])agt's  702.  703.  Part  3. 


RETiuxjyG  Home.  319 

joinery,  Mobile,  niid  New  Orleans.  As  I  hud  to  <-all  al  the 
hea(l(|uarters  of  the  c-oinnianders  in  these  cities  for  passes  and 
permits,  I  will  here  remark  in  rejrard  to  my  reception  by  these 
ni}^  late  enemies:  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  was  cral)bed  and  petulant 
when  I  showed  him  the  order  for  transjiortation  for  the  ne<rroes. 
Gen.  Sturo^is  was  kind  and  did  all  that  was  desiral)le  for  our 
comfort.  In  New  Orleans  Gen.  Canby  was  very  polite  to  us,  as 
he  was  to  every  one.  He  sent  me  u})  the  Mississippi  river  on  a 
chartered  steamer.  The  trip  up  the  river  was  pleasant.  There 
were  only  two  other  passeng^ers — Father  Livingston,  a  priest, 
and  a  sick  boy.  Livin<2:ston — may  God  1)less  him  I — had  but  one 
change  of  linen,  and  he  gave  that  to  the  sick  )>oy.  Avho  was  a 
stranger  to  him,  and  nursed  the  lad  attentively. 

I  was  forcibly  struck  with  the  amount  of  the  most  costly  sec- 
ond-hand ftcnntiire  sent  by  express  to  small  towns  in  Illinois 
and  Ohio,  put  up  in  oat  sacks.*  But  furniture  in  New  Orleans, 
you  know,  like  "Butler's'"  spoons,  belonged  to  the  victois.  The 
captain  of  the  steamer  put  me  on  shore  at  Argyle  Landing,  near 
my  home.  I  mounted  my  horse,  and  the  tirst  man  I  saw  was 
"Tom  Shelby"  sitting  on  the  fence  looking  at  some  negro  men 
plowing  a  large  field  of  corn.  He  hailed  me,  but  1  paid  no  at- 
tention to  him.  He  was  a  "rampant"  war  man  before  the  war 
began,  ))ut  he  stayed  at  home.  Indeed,  every  one  of  my  imme- 
diate neighbors — ten  in  number^were  not  in  the  army;  and  all, 
except  one,  able-bodied  men  and  younger  than  I  was.     The 

*Col.  Augustus  Choate  Hamlin,  U.  S.  A.,  in  his  "Battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville  "  (Bangor,  Me.,  published  by  the  author),  saj^s  (page  27),  speaking  of 
Blenker's  Division:  "The  men  justlj'  complained  of  their  treatment,  and 
also  of  the  abuse  bestowed  upon  them  during  the  march  across  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley  for  alleged  acts  of  pillage  on  the  way.  From  what  the  in- 
spector saw  he  was  of  the  o[)inion  that  the  stories  had  been  overestimated, 
and  he  has  thought  since  that  the  Second  Corps  put  in  the  breastworks  at 
North  Anna  more  valuables,  in  the  shape  of  pianos,  scientific  apparatus, 
and  choice  furnitui-e.  than  Blenker's  Division  stole  or  destroyed  during 
their  march  over  the  moimtains  to  Northern  Virginia.  Their  booty  and 
destruction,  even  as  exaggerated,  was  infinitesimal  as  compared  to  that 
of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  at  the  capture  of  Fredericksburg." 

After  Gen.  Payne.  U.  S.  A.,  who  was  stationed  at  Paducah.  Ky..  had 
been  co\n-t-martialed,  he  was  relieved,  and  among  the  })apers  left  behind 
him  was  one  saying:  "Don't  send  any  more  i)ianos.  or  jilated  silver,  or 
pictiu'es:  all  the  kin  are  su])])li('<l:  but  you  can  send  bed  linen  and  solid 
silverware." 


320  Tiro  Waks. 

Seott  boys  and  Calhoun  Hale  and  his  brother  were  good  and 
faithful  soldiers,  livino:  outside  the  belt  around  me. 

When  I  dismounted  at  my  door,  God  only  knows  my  agony 
of  heart.     None  to  welcome  me.  none  to  greet  me! 

•Desolate  the  hearth. 
Aiul  wild  weeds  gatliering  on  tlie  wall." 

Where  were  the  laurels  that  were  to  crown  my  browf  Wil- 
lows! Fences  burned,  bridges  destroyed;  the  plantation  a  for- 
est of  tall  'weeds;  horses,  uuiles,  cattle,  sheep,  poultry,  provi- 
sions, wagons,  implements  of  every  kind — all  gone;  \vealth,  serv- 
ants, comforts — all  means  of  su})port  for  my  family  gone;  all 
lost  save  honor.  I  sat  down  and  surveyed  the  desolation  around 
me.  Fortunately  my  house  was  not  burned,  and  I  had  a  shelter 
for  my  family,  should  they  come  here.  I  knew  the  noble  wom- 
en of  the  South,  who  for  years  had  labored  hard  and  cheerfully, 
trusting  in  God  and  the  justice  of  their  cause,  would  not  despond. 
I^oi'd  Byron  makes  the  beautiful  daughters  of 

The  tribes  of  tlie  Avandering  foot  and  weary  breast 

sit  down  l)y  the  rivers  of  Babylon  and  weep,  but  never  would 
they  string  a  harp  for  their  foe.  The  beautiful  daughters  of  the 
South  had  wept  no  bitter  tears  of  repentance,  nor  sung  })ieans 
for  their  foe;  they  had  proved  themselves  equal  to  adversity  in 
war,  and  would  they  not  help  build  up  lost  fortunes  in  peace? 
So  resolve  took  the  place  of  de.spondency,  and  I  returned  to 
Columbus  for  my  family. 

Sherman — the  fell  destroyer — had  burned  the  city  of  Jackson, 
Miss.,  and  the  ruins  reminded  me  of  Pompeii.  In  walking  one 
of  the  streets  I  pa.ssed  a  canvas  shanty,  from  w'hich  I  was  hailed 
by  an  Israelite  with  "Good  morning,  General;  come  in.'"  He 
had  hcQu  in  the  army  and  knew  me;  he  had  .some  goods  and 
groceries  for  sale.  When  I  was  leaving,  he  asked:  "General, 
can't  I  do  something  for  you?  Here  are  fifty  dollars,  ju.st  take 
them;  maybe  you  can  })ay  me  back  sometime."  I  thought  the 
angel  of  mercy  was  looking  down  on  us,  and  1  thought  of  Portia's 
address  to  Shylock  on  the  quality  of  mercy.  1  thanked  him 
kindly,  and  the  day  came  when  I  had  the  pleasure  of  repaying 
the  debt.  In  a  few  days  I  arrived  in  Columbus,  and  there  I 
found  a  lettei-  from  my  cousin.  Clayton  French,  of  Philadelphia,. 
Pa.,  foiitaiiiiiiir  a  check  for  a  thousand  dollars.      I  had  written 


Ox  THE  Plantation.  321 

to  liiiii  to  send  me  some  money,  hikI  this  was  his  liberal  re- 
sponse. 

The  servants  1  had  in  Cohnuhus  had  been  nominally  "confis- 
cated" and  set  free;  so  they  came  to  me,  almost  daily,  be^^ing 
me  to  take  them  back  to  the  plantation  in  Mississippi.  As  I 
was  not  able  to  do  this,  I  applied  to  some  "bureau,''  that  had 
charge  of  "refugees,"*'  for  transportation  for  these  negroes,  and 
to  my  surprise  it  was  granted.  As  soon  as  })()ssible  they  were 
put  on  the  cars  and  started  for  the  plantation.* 

On  the  17th  of  September,  186.5,  Mrs.  French  and  I  left  Gen. 
Abercrombie's  for  Greenville,  Miss.,  via  Montgomery,  Mobile, 
and  New  Orleans,  on  some  box  cars,  furnished  with  wooden 
benches  for  seats — such  was  the  condition  of  the  railroads  at  that 
time. 

When  we  reached  home  we  found  most  of  my  old  servants 
there  awaiting  our  arrival.  To  feed  and  clothe  about  a  hundred 
of  these  people,  and  to  plant  a  crop  of  cotton  in  the  spring, 
clothing,  provisions,  mules,  wagons,  farming  implements,  har- 
ness, etc. ,  had  to  be  procured. 

To  obtain  funds  to  purchase  the  articles  enumerated — to  com- 

*Wheu  Maj.  Wiley  Abererombie,  Mrs.  French's  brother,  left  college  to 
join  the  Confederate  army,  his  father  sent  Kica,  his  carriage  driver,  to 
wait  on  him — Wiley  being  a  youth. 

Now  Rica  had  never  worked  on  the  plantation;  from  childhood  he  had 
assisted  in  taking  care  of  the  farailj'  horses  and  carriages,  and  in  due  time 
became  the  driver  of  the  family  carriage. 

At  the  battle  of  Gettyslnu-g  Rica  was  captured  and  carried  nearly  to 
Philadelphia.  Pa.  One  night,  however,  he  made  his  escape,  traveled  on 
foot  to  the  Potomac,  crossed  that  river,  and  finally  reached  Richmond,  Va. 
Thence  the  authorities  gave  him  transportation  to  Columbus.  Ga.  When 
Wilej'  became  a  member  of  my  staff  Rica  came  with  him,  and  continued 
with  us  till  the  war  ended.  He  and  his  wife  remained  in  my  family  in 
Columbus;  thence  they  went  with  us  to  Winter  Park,  Fla. 

In  1884  Rica  made  a  visit  to  Columbus,  and  on  his  journey  home,  ))ecom- 
ing  short  of  money  to  purchase  a  ticket  from  Jack.sonville  to  Winter  Park, 
he  obtained  work  on  a  railroad,  ^^'hile  thus  employed  he  was  acciden- 
tally killed  by  a  tree  felled  on  him  by  one  of  the  hands. 

Poor  Rica!  His  fate  was  a  sad  one.  A  slave  in  name,  he  tied  from  free- 
dom given  him  at  Gettysburg,  and  wandered  back  to  be  a  liondsman:  and 
next  when  freedom  was  imposed  on  him  by  legislative  enactment  he 
spurned  it,  desiring  only  a  home  for  life  with  the  family  that  had  treated 
him  almost  as  one  of  their  own  children.  I  had  almost  similar  experi- 
ence with  my  own  servants  before  and  after  the  war. 
21 


322  Tfvo  Wars. 

mence  again — I  ^\ent  to  riiiladelphia  and  New  York  (by  special 
permission  of  the  irovernnient)  in  November, 

My  elotiilnii:  was  not  very  tidy;  it  had  seen  service;  and  I  con- 
cluded after  I  left  St.  Louis  to  travel  throujgh  the  enemy's  coun- 
try incoirnito  so  as  to  avoid  war  talks.  I  2rot  alono^  very  well 
until  I  readied  Phihideljihia.  I  had  been  advised  to  g-o  to  the 
Lafayette  Hotel;  and,  too  proud  to  present  myself  there  in  my 
present  garl),  I  entered  a  large  clothing  establishment  and  ar- 
rayed myself  in  a  suit  of  l)lack  broadcloth,  and  told  the  attend- 
ant to  wrap  the  old  suit  up.  When  I  paid  the  bill,  judge  of  my 
astonishment  to  have  him  say:  "To  what  hotel,  General,  shall  I 
send  the  package T'  ""Why  do  you  call  me  general?''  I  asked. 
"Because  I  saw  your  rank  and  name  in  full  written  on  the  inside 
of  your  vest;  that  is  all  right;  call  and  see  us  again."  Next  I 
entered  the  hotel,  and  went  to  register  my  name.  As  the  clerk 
threw  the  book  around,  he  exclaimed:  "How  do  you  do,  Gen. 
French!"  I  was  surprised;  he  replied:  "T  was  in  the  Confed- 
erate army,  and  knew  you  in  Virginia;  I  am  employed  here  be- 
cause we  want  Southern  patronage. ""  Here  was  my  incognito  dis- 
covered twice  in  one  hour.  But  that  is  not  all.  The  next  day 
I  took  the  train  from  Camden,  N.  J.,  for  Woodbury,  where  my 
mother,  sister,  and  daughter  had  been  ref ugeeing  since  they  left 
Mississippi  until  they  joined  me  at  the  plantation  in  November, 
1865.  I  knew  many  people  in  the  city,  and  had  the  honor  to 
have  been  /n/ng  there  once  in  effigy  by  its  fanatical  people  in  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  for  some  reason,  or  no  reason,  save  they 
did  a  foolish  thing  and  repented  of  it;  and  as  the  "bitter  war 
feeling"  raged  there  yet,  like  the  billows  of  the  ocean  after  the 
storm  has  passed,  T  took  the  last  seat  in  the  rear  car  as  a  quiet 
place.  Now  it  so  ha[)pencd  that  the  seat  opposite  me  was  oc- 
cupied by  a  genteel-looking  fellow,  wiio  evidently  had  l)een  in- 
dulging too  freely  in  whisky  and  wanted  to  make  himself  com- 
panionable. I  answered  his  questions  brietiy,  but  he  persisted  in 
talking,  desirous  to  know  who  1  was.  Penally  1  told  him  my 
name  was  French,  at  which  he  exclaimed,  "Are  you  Gen. 
French?"  in  such  a  loud  voice  as  to  draw  the  attention  of  many 
of  the  passengers  to  me;  and.  rising,  he  proffered  his  hand  and 
said:  "Going  to  youi-  inolhcr's,  1  reckon;  T  am  a  Union  soldier, 
and  when  we  i-cach  W'oodbur}^  1  will  get  my  nuisket  and  be  your 
escort."     He  walked  uj)  the  street  with  me  to  the  coi-ner,  where 


A  Rare  Gentleman.  323 

\vei)iirt<.'(l;  and  his  iKirtinii-  words  were:  '"If  any  one  troubles  you, 
send  for  me.  My  name  is  Paul."  *  Such  was  my  experience  in 
trying  to  travel  incognito.  1  crave  it  up,  and,  when  necessary, 
fouofht  square  out  for  Colifederate  rio;hts.  As  I  went  North  on 
Itusiness,  I  avoided  all  conti-oversy  al)out  the  war  as  far  as  pos- 
sible. 

I  nuist  now  make  a  dijifression.  In  the  autumn  of  1864  my 
mother,  sister,  and  child,  owing  to  illness,  engaged  passage  on 
a  steamer  at  Greenville,  Miss.,  and  started  for  oiu-  summer  homo 
in  Woodbury,  N.  J.  On  arriving  at  the  Girard  House,  in  Phila- 
delphia, Mr.  Edward  Cooper,  a  relation  of  mother's,  called  on 
her  and  asked  her  where  she  was  going,  and  she  said:  "Down 
home.''  He  then  informed  her  that  the  property  had  been  con- 
fiscated and  sold,  and  that  he  had  bought  it,  and  rented  it.  He 
asked  her  also  about  funds,  and,  tinding  she  had  near  a  thousand 
dollars  in  Confederate  money  (valueless),  under  the  pretense  of 
exchange  he  replaced  it  with  "greenbacks" — a  kind  act  deli- 
cately done.  Besides,  a  few  years  later  he  voluntarily  deeded  the 
property  back  to  me.  This  was  in  striking  contrast  with  others 
who  bought  my  personal  property,  valuable  mainly  as  memen- 
tos. It  is  always  pleasant  to  lind  a  gentleman.  They  are  sel- 
dom found  to  the  manor  born, 

"Where  commerce  long  prevails." 

Mother  went  down  to  Woodbury  and  engaged  board  there, 
and  returned  to  the  hotel.  Next  day  when  they  arrived  by  train 
in  that  town,  the  baggage  wagon,  the  express,  the  porters — no 
one  would  take  their  trunks  to  the  house;  nothing  could  induce 
these  loyal  people  to  toiteh  the  trunks  of  a  Rebel — unless  to  con- 
iiscate  them.  And  so  my  mother — an  old  woman,  alone,  in  the 
town  in  sight  of  which  she  was  born  and  where  she  lived,  among 
her  kindred — had  to  walk  away  and  leave  the  baggage.  Now, 
happily,  a  man — a  Quaker— heard  of  their  loyal  proceedings, 
and  went  to  my  mother  and  said,  "Well,  Aunt  Rebecca,  if  no 
one  wdll  l)ring  thy  trunks  from  the  depot  for  thee,  I  will  do  it;" 
and  in  his  ow  n  wagon  this  Friend  came  w  ith  the  l)aggage.  Go- 
morrah would  have  been  saved  had  it  contained  ten  men  like  this 
one.      The  new   dispensation  saved  Woodbury.      The  family 

*Ho\v  noble  the  conduct  of  this  man  who  had  been  in  the  army  con- 
trasted with  the  citizens  who  remained  at  home  crying  for  vengeance! 


324  •        Tiro  War^. 

lived  in  exile  until  autumn,  when  they  went  down  to  the  plan- 
tation. 

I  will  refer  to  the  main  object  of  my  visit  to  the  North.  I 
made  a  visit  to  New  York  and  failed  W  obtain  funds,  returned  to 
Philadeliihia.  and  there  made  the  )>est  contract  I  could;  and  the 
spirit  of  liberality  shown  l)y  my  friend  will  connuend  itself  to 
you  l)y  the  terms  of  the  contract,  which  1  now  have: 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  December  9,  1865. 

Borrowed  of eight  thousand  dollars  ($8,000),  payable  within  one 

year  from  the  date  of  this  instrument.  In  consideration  of  this  money 
being  furnished  me  without  interest.  1  agree  to  furnish  or  ship  him.  at 
such  point  as  he  may  direct,  thirty  commercial  bales  of  cotton  of  four  hun- 
dred pounds  each,  of  average  quality,  out  of  the  crop  raised  by  me  on  my 
plantation  during  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-six  (1866).  The 
cotton  thus  shi])ped  to  be  the  sole  property  of . 

[Signed]  S.  d.  Fuknc  n. 

As  cotton  was  selling  at,  or  over,  forty  cents  per  pound,  the 
bonus  was  (in  lieu  of  legal  interest— 30X400 x 40=14, 800)  at  least 
four  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars,  Avhich  is  only  sixty  per  cent 
interest. 

When  in  Venice,  1  visited  the  Rialto  a  numl)er  of  times,  and 
curiosity  prompted  nie  to  seek  the  sho])  near  l)v  where  Shylock 
studied  finance  and  made  that  loan  to  Antonio;  and  you  will  re- 
member that  when  "Tom  Walker  sold  himself  to  the  devil  he 
agreed  to  use  the  money  in  the  service  of  the  devil  l>y  turning 
n.swe/'.''  *  ]\iy  friend  o])tained  his  knowledge  of  thrift,  1  know 
not  where.  But  which  of  these  three  was  the  most  benevolent  I 
will  leave  you  to  decide.  I  only  care  to  observe  that  they  all 
knew  that  "the  poor  man's  necessity  was  the  rich  man's  oppor- 
tunity."    With  me  it  was  Hobson's  choice. 

While  North  I  met  in  New^  York  City  and  Washington  many 
Federal  army  officers,  with  whom  I  had  been  associated  in  years 
gone  by,  and  they  were  kind,  especially  Gens.  Ingalls,  Quinby, 
Grant,  Steele,  Wright,  and  others.  I  could  not  b>it  observe 
about  Philadelphia  that  people  were  distrustful  of  each  other, 
as  though  under  surveillance.  Gen.  Robert  P.  invited  me  to 
come  to  his  house  after  dark,  and  evidently,  from  w^hat  he  said, 
did  not  wish  it  known  that  1  had  been  there.  Mr.  Bayaid, 
whose  son,  Gen.  G.  D.  Bayard,  w-as  killed  at  Fredericksburg, 

♦Washington  Irving. 


Northern  Distrust.  825 

sent  nie  a  message  that  lie  would  like  to  meet  me,  V)ut  that  it 
would  not  l)e  prudent  for  him  to  have  me  visit  him  at  his  home. 
These  and  other  friends  were  timid  at)out  their  k)yalty  being 
ehallenged  if  seen  with  a  so-called  "'Rebel." 

To  this  general  timidity  so  i)revalent  Clayton  French  was  an 
exception.  He  took  me  to  church,  theaters,  clubs,  and  wher- 
ever inclination  led,  in  contempt  of  the  crowd  that  were  afraid 
their  loyalty  might  not  be  above  suspicion.  Samuel  H.  French, 
his  brother,  forgot  his  intense  prejudice  against  the  South,  for 
he  was  one  of  the  best  men  that  ever  lived,  and  forgave  all  the 
"Rebels'"  except  Jeff  Davis.  In  evidence  of  the  purity  of  his 
character  he  told  me  just  before  his  death  that  he  had  never 
been  guilty  of  an  act  or  said  anything  that  he  desired  to  con- 
ceal from  his  family.  There  will  be  no  charges  against  him 
when  the  judgment  book  is  opened. 

I  arrived  in  St.  Louis  on  my  way  home  on  the  16th  of  De- 
cember, and  saw  the  floe  of  ice  crush  the  steamers  at  the  land- 
ing like  eggshells.  The  next  morning  I  walked  across  the  river 
on  the  ice,  and  got  home  on  Christmas  day  and  found  the  weather 
balmy  and  warm.  And  now  I  longed  for  rest,  but  the  curse  of 
the  freedmen's  bureau  was  here,  to  instruct  even  the  cooks  when 
to  prepare  meals  and  regulate  household  affairs,  and  approve  all 
contracts  for  labor  on  the  plantation. 

In  connection  with  my  visit  North  in  186.5  it  will  not  perhaps 
be  out  of  place  to  give  here  an  account  of  a  conversation  that 
related  to  an  important  contemplated  movement.  Now,  whilst 
I  was  in  Philadelphia,  a  friend  of  mine,  and  late  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  called  to  see  me.  During  a  long  conver- 
sation on  matters  pertaining  to  the  war,  he  asked  me  "if  in 
1862  there  was  any  feeling  among  the  Confederate  troops  that 
there  would  be  an  armistice,  and  peace  made  during  the  truce 
by  the  fraternization  of  the  ()i)posing  forces."  I  told  him  that 
in  the  sunuuer  of  1862,  Avhen  I  was  in  Petersburg,  Va.,  there 
was  a  vague  idea  floating  around  relating  to  a  peace  being  near 
at  hand,  and,  although  it  could  not  be  explained,  it  was  felt  to 
be  more  than  a  fairy  tale,  and  yet  could  be  traced  to  no  source. 
He  then  informed  me  that  "a  few  prominent  men  in  the  North 
desired  the  war  should  be  stopped,  and  to  obtain  this  end,  soon 
after  the  battle  of  ^Vutietam,  I  think  it  was,  a  particular  friend 
and  relation  of  Gen.  McClellan's  was  sent  to  him  to  obtain  his 


326  Two  Wars. 

views,  and  ascertain  if  he  would  a(/ree  to  t/te  proposed  plan. ^'' 
When  the  a^ent  had  unfolded  the  plan,  McClellan  denounced  it. 
Soon  after  he  was  removed,  and  Burnside  put  in  connnand  of 
the  army,  which  looks  as  if  there  was  something  that  tlicv  i-ould 
feel  in  the  air  there  too. 

It  is  useless  to  speculate  on  {\\v  results  of  such  a  hold  under- 
taking'. The  actors  of  the  movement  are  all  dead,  and  1  pause 
in  silence  at  the  brink  of  their  graves.  They  wished  to  end  the 
war,  and  restore  the  Union  in  that  way.  Of  course  McClellan 
would  have  been  made  dictatoi-  foi-  the  time.  He  would  not  be- 
tray his  trust. 

This  incident  induces  me  to  remark  that  war  is  the  most  un- 
certain of  all  undertakings  of  a  nation,  and,  like  the  tempest, 
cannot  be  contrt)lled,  and  seldom  or  never  ends  as  predicted. 
The  North  proclaimed  that  this  ""  little  rebellion''  would  end  in 
sixty  days  I  It  lasted  four  years,  and  ended  as  no  one  had  fore- 
seen. It  had  to  suppress  rebellions  caused  by  people  who  enter- 
tained Southern  opinions  in  New  York,  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  and 
other  cities;  muzzle  the  press,  prohibit  freedom  of  speech,  ban- 
ish prcmiinent  individuals,  arrest  men  without  warrant,  and  im- 
prison them  without  charges  made  known  to  them;  and  violated 
nearly  every  resolution  and  pledge  made  in  the  beginning  relat- 
ing to  the  South:  they  cast  aside  constitutional  law,  and  substi- 
tuted martial  law,  under  which  the  South  became  a  scene  of  deso- 
lation and  starvation. 

Much  has  been  said  about  firing  the  hrst  gun,  ""tiring  on  the 
flag."  The  crime  rests  on  them  who  made  it  obligatory  to  tire 
the  fii'st  gun.  Northern  writers  are  in  error  when  they  state 
that  "firing  on  the  flag"'  tired  the  Northern  hearts  with  unanimi- 
ty of  purpose.  On  the  contrary,  as  I  have  stated,  it  produced 
dissension,  even  to  re1)ellion.  until  suppressed  by  arms  and  in- 
timidation from  sus])ensi()ii  of  the  writ  of  Jiaheas  eorjxhs. 

This  liriug  the  lirst  gun  is  made  a  vcrital)le  ""humbug.'"  It 
reminds  nie  of  an  occurrence  in  the  giaud  jiny  room  in  Green- 
ville, Miss.,  in  reconstruction  days.  A  man.  whom  I  will  call 
*'"A,"  sent  a  message  to  "B."  giving  him  notice  that  he  intended 
to  kill  liiui  on  sight  should  lie  meet  him.  Warned  in  this  way, 
•"B"  armed  himself  with  a  shotgun.  They  met.  "A"  raised  his 
gun  to  his  shoiildci'.  and  aimed  at  "  B."  Seeing  this.  ''  B"  fired 
instantlv.  and  killed  •"A."    The  i^rand  inrx- invcstiiratcd  the  mat- 


The  Cos'stitution  Inadequate.  327 

ter,  and  only  one  member  voted  to  find  a  true  bill  atJ^ainst  "B," 
and  he  did  it  on  the  ofrounds  that  "  B"  should  have  waited  to  see 
if  ''A"  was  really  "^oinir  to  kill  him. 

Now  the  government  of  the  United  States  was  in  the  position 
of  "A,''  only  it  was  not  honest  enouo^h  to  inform  the  Confed- 
erate States  that  it  was  goinof  to  reenforce  Fort  Sumter;  l)ut 
really  made  false  statements  about  it,  for  it  secretly  sent  eight 
warships  for  that  very  purpose,  which  were  then  at  the  1)ar  off 
the  hurl)or  of  Charleston. 

The  Confederate  government  was  in  the  position  of  "  B," 
and  was  it  to  wait  to  see  what  the  eight  ships  of  war  would  do, 
to  see  if  "'A"  would  reenforce  the  garrison,  which  it  pledged 
itself  not  to  do.  or  tire  to  prevent  hi  This  is  all  well  known 
now. 

My  own  opinion  is  that  the ^fi/sf  gnu  was  lired,  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  a  number  of  prominent  men  North,  by  John  Brown  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  and  for  which  he  was  apotheosized  and  num- 
bered among  the  saints. 

Mr.  Lincoln  said :  ' '  The  dogmas  of  the  quiet  past  are  inade- 
quate to  the  stormy  present.  The  occasion  is  piled  high  with 
difficulty,  and  we  must  rise  w  ith  the  occasion.  Our  case  is  new. 
We  must  think  anew,  and  act  anew.  We  must  disenthrall  our- 
selves, and  then  we  shall  save  the  country."  (Joel  Parker  Lec- 
ture at  Harvard  College.) 

These  words  indicate  that  the  powers  of  the  Constitution  were 
inadequate  to  the  conduct  of  the  war,  and  henceforth  the  war 
must  be  conducted  as  occasion  deemed  expedient.  In  other 
words,  the  executive  power  must  be  declared  greater  than  the 
power  that  made  it,  or  the  creature  greater  than  the  Creator, 
and  with  dictatorial  methods  the  war  w^as  conducted.  Avaunt, 
Constitution,  avaunt  I  We  are  fighting  for  the  Union,  for  do- 
mini(m  over  the  Southern  territory  again,  and  so  the  Constitu- 
tion was  folded  up,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Freediuen's  Bureau — Geu.  O.  ().  Howard.  Commissioner — Platform  for 
Keconstruetiou — Iroiu-lad  Oath — Natural  Rights  of  Man — Civil  Kights 
-  Negroes  Matle  Citizens — Persecution — Agents  of  Freedmens  Bureau 
— Personal  Experience — Negro  Justices — Some  Trials — Judge  Shackel- 
ford— Secret  Societies — William  A.  Sharkey — Gov.  Adalbert  Ames — 
Sheriff  Webber — Taxes — Board  of  Levee  Commissioners  Dismissed — 
Religious  Negroes — Bishop  Wilmer — Prayers  for  the  President — Shot- 
gun J^lection — Hegira— Carpetl)aggers — Indissoluble  Union — Indestruc- 
tible States— We  Were  a  Conquered  Nation — Reconstruction  Only  a  Defi- 
nition for  Deeds  Done — Strength  of  Respective  Armies. 

TTTHEN  I  commenced  writing  the  narrative  of  my  observa- 
'  ^  tions  in  early  life  and  tlie  incidents  of  service  in  the 
United  States  army  and  my  diary  of  the  civil  war,  1  did  it  to 
preserve  for  my  children  the  record  of  these  events,  but  in  vol- 
mne  it  has  increased  more  than  at  tirst  intended;  and  as  it  may 
perhaps  some  day  be  made  public,  I  feel  it  incumbent  on  me  to 
^ive  nq/  cxperleMce  under  the  workin<js  of  reconstruction  as  be- 
in^  of  more  value  than  a  description  l)y  any  historian  of  a  later 
age  who  would  have  no  enlightenment  by  living  under  its  arbi- 
trary rule. 

An  act  creating  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  was  passed  March  3, 
1865.  The  commissioner  was  authorized  to  set  apart  for  the  use 
of  loyal  refugees  and  freedmen  abandoned  lands,  also  confiscated 
lands,  and  assign  forty  acres  for  three  years,  etc.,  to  families. 

In  1866  a  supplementary  bill  was  passed  over  a  veto  to  extend 
the  act.  "Among  other  things  the  ])ill  sul)jected  any  white  per- 
son, who  might  he  cliarged  with  depriving  a  fi'eedman  of  civil 
rights  or  immimities  to  imprisonment  or  tine  or  both,  without 
defining  the  meaning  of  ""  r//v7  i'!</Jifs  <>r  ninintn'ititsy  The  ju- 
risdiction of  the  agents  extended  to  all  contracts,  and  without  a 
written  contract  and  the  agent's  appro\al  no  frecdm.'in  could  be 
employed.  No  indictment  by  a  grand  jury  nor  a  trial  l)y  a 
jury  was  necessary.  The  //>.vr  di.r'ii  of  an  ignorant  negro  was 
cause  for  fine  or  iinprisoniiient  without  appeal. 

(ien.  O.  O.  Ilowai'd,  noted  for  cxuttcrnnt  piety,  was  made 
Conunissioner.  and  his  career,  his  estal)lisliiMg  of  the  Howard 
I'niversitx'  in  \\'jisliiiigtoii  f(»r  the  hiifhci'  cultuic  of  the  negro. 


Supreme  Malignity.  32^ 

the  cottages  he  built  for  them,  the  aid  he  gave  the  Church,  the 
land  he  bought,  and  the  Freedman's  Bank  he  esta})lislied,  which 
blew  up  or  burst,  can  be  found  in  a  report  of  a  congressional 
committee.  Under  this  bill  the  annual  expenditure  was  $11,- 
750,000. 

An  article  published  in  the  Atlantic  MontliJij  for  August, 
1865,  sounded  the  keynote  for  the  action  of  the  United  States 
government  in  legislation  for  the  "rebels,"  wherein  it  is  stated: 
"We  are  placed  by  events  in  that  strange  condition  in  which 
the  safety  of  the  republican  form  of  government  we  desire  to 
insure  the  Southern  States  has  more  safeguards  in  the  instincts 
OF  THE  KiNOKANT  than  in  the  intelligence  of  the  educated." 
And  furthermore  it  is  declared  that  "the  highest  requirements 
of  abstract  justice  coincide  with  the  lowest  requirements  of 
political  prudence,  and  the  largest  justice  to  the  loyal  blacks 
is  the  real  condition  of  the  widest  clemency  to  the  rebel 
whites." 

This  declaration  proclaims  that  the  Southern  States  would  be 
safer  if  their  governments  were  established  on  the  ignorance  of  the 
blacks  than  on  the  intelligence  of  the  whites.  Could  malignity 
go  any  farther  ?  On  this  degrading  plane  were  the  State  gov- 
ernments established. 

They  had  called  for  bIof)d,  and  got  none,  save  in  the  case  of 
Wirz,  who  was  given  to  the  mob  as  a  "  sop."  As  they  could  not 
indict  a  whole  nation,  they  arrested  President  Davis,  and,  discov- 
ering no  grounds  for  conviction,  he  was  released,  because  a  fail- 
ure to  convict  would  establish  legally  the  right  of  secession,  and 
thus  prove  the  North  to  be  the  aggressor.  Failing  on  this  line, 
the  human  passions  and  human  prejudices  of  the  people  arrayed 
under  the  higher  law  of  conscience  swayed  them  like  a  mob,  and, 
failing  to  find  any  lawful  means  to  spill  blood,  sought  vengeance 
in  the  enacting  of  partisan  laws  for  plunder  of  Avealth,  and  the  hu- 
miliation of  the  whites.  To  this  end  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  Avas 
created,  and  President  Johnson's  proclamation  was  issued  dis- 
franchising the  whites  on  fourteen  different  counts:  among  them 
was  one  that  made  the  possession  of  twenty  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  property  a  crime  that  disfranchised  the  owner.  Then 
came  the  ironclad  oath,  which  del)arred  all  ])ers()ns  from  taking 
it  "who  had  ever  borne  arms  against  the  L'nited  States  since 
they  have  been  citizens  thereof,  or  who  have  voluntarily  given 


330  Two  Wars. 

a!<L  countenance,,  counM^I,  or  encouragement  to  persons  engaged 
in  armed  hostility  thereto:  that  they  have  never  sought,  nor 
ace-epted,  nor  attempted  to  exercise  the  functions  of  any  office 
whatsoever  under  any  authority,  or  pretended  authority,  in  hos- 
tility to  the  United  States,"  etc. 

All  men  above  twenty-one  years  of  age  w  ho  could  take  this 
oath  could  vote,  and  /lo  others.  As  there  were  very  few  white 
men  who  could  take  this  oath,  the  elections  fell,  as  intended,  into 
the  hands  of  the  negroes,  carpet))aggers,  and  the  United  States 
troops  on  duty  South. 

The  enactment  of  the  fourteenth  amendment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Tnited  States  was  regarded  in  the  North  as  a  mag- 
nanimous exhil)ition  of  philanthropy  toward  the  untutored 
slaves,  and  it  was  so  accepted  by  nations:  but  in  reality  it  was 
an  insidious  mode  of  punishing  the  Southern  people. 

The  white  people  who  owned  the  land  and  paid  quite  nine- 
tenths  of  all  the  taxes  were  now^  disfranchised,  and  the  amend- 
ment was  intended  as  a  punishment  by  denying  them  a  voice  in 
legislation. 

Senator  ]Morton  and  Thaddeus  Stevens,  like  the  Roman  au- 
gurs, could  not  look  in  each  other's  face  without  laughing  at  the 
success  of  their  machinations. 

Two  years  later  (in  1870)  the  fifteenth  amendment  to  the  Con- 
stitution was  [)assed.  These  last  three  articles  placed  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  people  in  the  South  under  the  rule  of  their  former  slaves! 
This  was  the  S,'n  that  started  the  race  problem.  The  freedraen, 
left  to  themselves,  would  have  settled  the  labor  question,  and 
their  social  position  and  the  race  issue:  but  for  aggrandizement 
of  power  and  acquisition  of  wealth  he  was  dragged  into  the  halls 
of  legislation  and  llattered  into  the  belief  that  also  socially  he  was 
on  an  equality  with  the  whites.  From  this  sprung  unmention- 
able crimes,  and  daily  lynchings  followed  as  a  remedy. 

What  a  change!  As  a  slave  he  was  the  faithful  })rotector  of 
his  mistress  and  hci-  family:  his  children  the  terror  now  of  un- 
protected women  I 

And  here  I  will  tell  you  how  the  voting  was  done.  The  ne- 
groes had,  previously,  been  required  to  take  the  oath.  At  my 
home  a  table  was  placed  on  the  gallery,  and  there  the  registrars 
were  seated.  The  negroes  were  called  up;  as  many  as  could 
tourh  the  liible  were  asked  if  they  "had  ever  held  office  under 


XkctUO  Offickrs.  331 

the  United  States  oi-  oiveii  aid,"  etc.  Some  said  '"  No,'"  some  said 
"Yes,"  and  some  wore  silent.  At  last  they  were  told  to  say  "No," 
and  registration  })apers  were  <jiven  them,  with  the  eliar<^e  not  to 
lose  them.  There  1  sat,  no  more  a  citizen  than  if  I  had  been 
born  in  China,  while  my  negroes  were  made  eligible  to  almost 
any  otliee  in  the  country. 

It  is  now  generally  acknowledged  that  all  the  negro  received 
was  by  the  force  of  environments;  and  now  he  has  discovered 
that  he  has  been  grateful  to  the  radical  party,  and  payed  them 
for  a  debt  of  love  that  had  no  foundation  except  in  hypocrisy. 
They  were  told  that  they  were  now  American  citizens,  endowed 
vfith  all  their  moral  and  civil  rights. 

"The  natural  lug/if.s  of  a  solitary  individual  have  no  connec- 
tion whate\er  with  the  moraJ  and  civil  r/gJits  of  the  man  who 
has  entered  into  association  with  others.""     (Huxley.) 

The  dominant  party  entertained  the  belief  that  the  slaves 
would  politically  always  belong  to  the  party  that  "confis- 
cated"* them;  and  confounding  natural  rights  with  civil  rights, 
they  forced  the  Southern  States  to  pass  the  fourteenth  amend- 
mentto  the  Constitution,  which  made  them  citizens  of  the  United 
States  and  the  State  wherein  they  reside. 

As  vultures  sail  in  long  lines  from  their  roost  (countless  in 
numbers)  to  where  the  carcass  is,  so  came  the  harpies  and  po- 
litical adventurers  to  the  carcass  (the  South)  to  embrace  the  col- 
ored citizens;  and,  hand  in  hand,  cheek  by  jowl,  they  entered 
the  political  arena,  and  tilled  the  capitols  of  the  South.  Every 
officer  in  the  State  from  governor  to  coroner  was  dismissed,  and 
new  appointments  made.  The  Legislatures  became  bacchanalian 
feasts  to  divide  the  spoils  of  office  and  increase  the  debts  of  the 
States  by  selling  State  bonds  to  the  amount  of  countless  millions. 
They  subsidized  everything  they  could ;  in  short,  they  ate  up  or 
took  possession  of  all  that  was  left  after  the  war  ceased;  and  at 
last  departed  with  stolen  wealth,  and  the  execrations  of  all  the 
honest  people.  Negroes  were  appointed  or  elected  to  such  of- 
fices as  Senator,  Governor,  members  of  Congress,  f  and  the  judi- 
ciary of  the  States  and  county  officers. 

*The  confiscation  of  tfie  slaves  by  act  of  Congress  is  an  acknowledg- 
nuMit  of  tlie  just  decision  made  by  Chief  Justice  Taney  in  the  Dred  Scott 
case,  that  a  slave  was  cliattel,  or  personal  property. 

f  I  know  a  man  North  who  paid  $0,000  to  a  Congressman  for  his  sou's 


332  7'iio  Wars. 

June  13,  1865,  William  A.  Sharkey  was  appointed  provisional 
governor  of  the  State  of  Mississippi,  and  he  ordered  an  election 
of  delegates  to  the  convention,  and  here  is  the  way  the  members 
were  elected: 

On  the  appointed  day  the  new-made  citizens  went  to  the  pre- 
cincts to  vote.  When  they  came  home  I  asked  my  servant 
Levi,  who  had  been  with  me  through  the  war,  how  many  per- 
sons were  at  the  polls,  and  he  said  "about  two  hundred,  that 
only  two  white  men  were  there,  and  they  were  inside  the  house." 
When  asked  who  he  voted  for.  he  replied  "he  voted  for  that 
thinfr.  you  know,  called  Ini^ent'ion^''^  and  the  way  they  voted  was 
this:  "You  reniem])er  the  paper  we  had  [registration];  I 
handed  it  to  two  white  men  inside  the  room,  through  a  window; 
they  looked  at  it.  handed  it  back  to  me.  and  said  open  your 
hand;  I  did  so,  and  one  of  the  men  then  put  a  little  folded  paper 
in  my  hand,  then  took  it  out  and  put  it  in  a  box  and  said,  '  Move 
on. ' "  This  was  a  Kepu})lican  free  election.  ])oacef  ul .  quiet,  and  de- 
cisive, basedon  ignorance.  The  complexion  of  tlic  convention  was 
dark,  of  course.  This  ungenerous  revenge  taken  against  a  con- 
quered people  will  ever  remain  a  dark  shadow  over  the  gener- 
osity and  Christian  spirit  of  the  Northern  })eople.  It,  however, 
must  be  attributed  to  uncultured  minds  and  want  of  knowledge 
of  history.  The  masses  did  not  know  that  New  England's 
ablest  statesmen  always  claimed  their  right  of  secession,  as  the 
debates  in  Congress  show.  Besides,  they  were  unmindful  that 
opinion  at  the  North  was  about  e(iually  divided  on  this  question. 

When  the  revolutionary  war  was  ended,  and  the  cry  for  per- 
secution, and  confiscation  of  property  of  the  Toi'len  was  raised, 
our  Minister  to  France.  Ben  Franklin.  ]iut  that  as  a  ti'ump  card 
in  his  pocket  to  win  against  England;  and  Gens.  Alexander 
Hamilton  and  Nathanael  Greene  and  other  Mineral  gentlemen  de- 
clared it  would  be  "an  outrage  to  ))unisli  them  foi'  holding  the 
same  oji'mioii  that  we  all  held  only  a  few  years  ago,  l)ef()re  the 
war  commenced."  A\'liat  a  contrast  between  the  age  of  honor 
and  the  age  thirsting  for  gold  I 

Perhaps  in  all  the  wide  woi'ld  never  again  will  be  seen  such 
malignant  legislation,  and  maladministration  of  law.  such  trials 


appointment.     This  was  excluding  ihc  South  from  positions  in  the  army 
and  navy. 


The  Fpeedmen's  Bureau.  333 

in  the  courts,  speeches  in  legislative  halls,  preaching  by  illiter- 
ate negroes,  mode  of  getting  religion,  idleness  of  the  laborers, 
inunorality  taught  by  men  from  the  slums  of  Northern  cities, 
thirst  for  money,  howling  for  office,  insolence  in  office,  with  up- 
heaval of  society,  creating  constant  anxiety  of  mind  as  to  what 
a  day  might  bring  forth. 

Add  to  these  the  formation  of  loyal  league  societies  of  ne- 
groes, by  politicians  swearing  them  to  obedience  to  orders, 
bands  of  brothers  and  sisters,  com]K)sed  of  blacks  under  white 
villains,  to  biu-n  our  towns,  and  murder  the  whites;  the  Kuklux 
Klan  of  the  whites  for  protection,  and  other  kindred  vexations 
and  trials  that  made  the  South  the  home  of  the  spirits  of  pan- 
demonium; so  one  could  truly  exclaim  with  Ariel, 
"Hell  isemptj'  and  all  the  devils  are  here."'* 

As  I  have  said,  they  came  like  vultures  to  the  carcass  to  devour 
the  substance  of  the  helpless  South,  and  they  were  unblushingly 
successful.  Under  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  and  the  military 
governors,  those  who  could  not  take  the  ironclad  oath  were  help- 
less. 

The  agent  of  the  PVeedmen's  Bureau  in  our  county  (Wash- 
ington, Miss. )  who  came  first  was  desirous  to  aid  the  planters 
and  f  reedmen  to  make  a  crop;  and  as  this  required  reliable  labor, 
the  planters  in  the  neighborhood  agreed  to  give  him  cotton  to 
the  value  of  ^5,000  if  he  would  visit  the  i^lantations,  when  nec- 
essary or  convenient,  to  encourage  the  hands  to  work  faithfully, 
under  the  contracts  that  he  had  approved,  and  I  will  most  cheer- 
fully say  that  without  this  aid  and  influence  the  negroes  would 
have  been  unprofitable  producers. 

The  agents  were  changed,  and  in  1867  an  Irishman  came,  who 
could  handle  the  shillalah,  drink  whisky  without  the  smell  of 
peat,  sing  the  "  Msh  Dragoon"  or  the  ''Widow  Malone."  and 
run  the  Freedmen's  Bureau.  And  here  is  a  little  of  my  own  ex- 
perience under  it  with  him. 

In  renting  out  the  land  on  shares,  among  the  squads  was  one 
squad  of  thirteen  hands,  with  two  negroes  named  Miles  and 
Derry  as  head  men.  They  had  al)()ut  eighty  acres  put  in  cot- 
ton. The  recorded  contract  required  them  to  work  under  my 
direction,  and  I  was  to  furnish  means  to  raise  the  crop,  and  their 

*  Shakespeare's  "Tempest,  "Act  I. 


334  Two  Wars. 

share  was  half  the  cotton.  Owina-  to  the  ahiiost  constant  spring 
rains,  their  crop  became  liopelessly  overgrown  with  weeds  and 
grass.  I  vainly  tried  to  induce  them  to  abandon  the  lowest  part 
of  the  land  and  save  about  sixty  acres;  they  refused.  I  then 
wrote  a  note  to  the  agent.  He  came  out  late  in  the  evening  with 
the  deputy  sheriff  and  sent  for  Miles  and  Derry.  heard  what 
they  had  to  say;  then  severely  reprimanded  them;  took  Miles 
by  the  ears  and  backed  him  against  the  side  of  the  house  and 
pounded  his  head  against  the  wall  vigorously;  then  taking  Derry 
by  the  ears,  he  pounded  his  head  as  he  did  ]\Iiles's.  By  this  time 
near  a  hundred  negroes  were  on  the  lawn  peeping  up  over  the 
gallery,  which  was  the  arena  of  the  acts. 

Then  he  made  a  live  minutes'  talk  to  the  people,  giving  them 
some  good  advice.  He  then  took  Miles  and  Derry  through  the 
the  same  enlivening  bout,  ordering  them  to  be  at  his  office  the 
next  day  at  10  a.m.  Again  he  spoke  to  the  crowd,  telling  them 
how  he  had  "fought,  bled,  Sinddle(J  that  they  might  be  free," 
etc. 

While  this  was  going  on,  to  stop  such  proceedings.  I  took  the 
deputy  sheriff,  Wilson,  into  the  dining  room,  put  a  decanter  of 
whisky  on  the  sideboard,  and  told  him  to  get  the  agent  in  there, 
give  him  a  glass  to  sober  him,  and,  when  he  came  out,  take  his 
arm  and  go  direct  for  the  horses.  Much  to  my  relief,  he  got 
him  on  his  horse  and  they  returned  to  (xreenville.  Miles  and 
Derry  went  to  Greenville  next  day,  as  ordered.  The  former 
came  back  much  subdued  and  Derry  went  to  an  adjoining  plan- 
tation to  work.  Ridiculous  as  the  performance  was,  which  lasted 
over  an  hour,  it  had  a  good  effect  on  the  dei)()rtment  of  all  the 
hands  on  the  place. 

The  military  governor  had  commissioned  a  man  from  the 
North  named  Webber  as  sheriff'  of  the  county.  Bolton,  an 
Irishman,  Harris,  an  educated  negro  from  Ohio,  and  Horton, 
a  cotton  tield  negro  without  education,  were  appointed  justices 
of  the  peace  in  Greenville.  I  will  very  briefly  give  you  an  idea 
of  the  administration  of  justice  in  a  few  cases  out  of  many 
brought  before  them. 

Ed  Chamberlain,  who  had  been  a  negro  soldier  in  the  Ignited 
States  army,  occupied  a  house  at  the  southern  gate  of  the  plan- 
tation, and  he  was  instructed  to  keep  the  gate  shut  on  account 
of  cattle.     Twice  n'ltJumt  (uuis,-  he  had  told  II.  N.  Hood,  a  neigh- 


Arrested  liY  a""^'' EG Ro.  335 

boring  planter,  in  an  insolent  manner:  "  Shut  the  gate  after  you." 
On  a  third  occasion  lie  repeated  the  remarks,  whereupon  Hood 
and  a  friend  with  him  gave  lum  a  trouncing.  They  then  went  to 
Justice  Harris,  told  him  what  they  had  done,  and  settled  the 
case  by  each  giving  him  five  dollars.  On  trial  day  Chamberlain 
went  to  court,  and  when  the  court  adjourned  he  asked  the  justice 
Avhy  he  did  not  try  his  case,  and  the  answer  was:  "Go  home;  1 
tried  your  complaint  long  ago." 

Ant)ther  freedman  on  the  place  named  Nelson  one  morning  got 
into  a  triangular  tight  with  his  wife  and  a  colored  girl.  They 
all  started  for  Greenville  to  lay  their  respective  grievances  be- 
fore Judge  Harris.  However,  they  met  Harris  on  liorseback 
on  the  road  running  through  the  plantation,  and  he  accosted 
them:  '"Good  morning,  ladies  and  gentleman;  where  are  you 
going!;'''  They  told  him  that  they  were  going  to  see  him. in 
Greenville,  and  all  made  complaint  to  him  there  in  the  road; 
whereupon  he  fined  each  the  sum  of  five  dollars,  and  1  had  to 
advance  the  money  or  they  would  have  left  the  plantation.  That 
was  summary  justice,  and  an  examination  of  the  books  by  the 
grand  jury  showed  that  he  had  credited  the  county  with  the  fif- 
teen dollars. 

A  third  case  worthy  of  notice  as  illustrating  the  vigilance  of 
the  colored  brethren  as  magistrates  is  the  trial  of  what  may  be 
termed  "State  of  Mississippi  vs.  S.  G.  French."'  John  Dixon, 
a  freedman,  about  Christmas  stole  two  bales  of  cotton  from  the 
ginhouse  in  open  daylight,  and  being  pursued  by  my  manager, 
threw  the  bales  ofi'  his  wagon,  and  they  were  recovered.  1  went 
to  Greenville,  and  before  Bolton,  the  justice  of  the  peace,  swore 
out  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Dixon.  A  number  of  days  passed 
and  he  was  not  arrested.  So  I  sent  for  Dixon,  and  settled  money 
accoanU  with  him,  and  told  him  to  leave  the  plantation. 

Some  days  after  this  a  deputy  negro  constable  was  sent  to  ar- 
rest Dixon;  but,  meeting  one  of  my  hands  on  the  road  and  mak- 
ing known  to  him  the  purport  of  his  visit,  he  was  told:  "Go 
home,  nigger;  de  ginneral  done  gone  xdtl ed  \i\\\\  John  long  ago, 
and  John  have  left  the  place."  So  the  deputy  returned  and  re- 
ported accordingly. 

Perhaps  it  was  a  week  after  this  that  a  negro  constable  came 
to  my  house  with  a  warrant  to  arrest  me  issued  by  the  cotton- 
field  justice,  Horton,  charging  me  with  having  compounded  a 


336  Tiro  Wars. 

feloiiv.  Who  pr()nn)tc(l  Horton  to  issue  the  warrant  I  never 
knew:  hut.  us  he  employed  a  '' jack-leo^'"  hiwyer  to  keep  his 
docket  and  act  as  leo^al  adviser,  he  may  have  induced  Horton  to 
act  in  the  matter.  1  asked  Frank  Valliant.  a  distin<ruishe<l  hiw- 
yer, to  take  my  case  and  defend  me.  He  said  that  he  had  re- 
solved not  to  argue  any  case  where  a  negro  presided,  for  he  dis- 
liked to  say,  "  May  it  please  your  honor,"  to  an  illiterate  negro. 
However,  out  of  friendship,  he  said  that  he  would  appear  for 
me  if  I  would  pay  any  tine  imposed  upon  him  for  contempt  of 
court. 

Some  two  weeks  after  this  the  trial  day  came.  Valliant  and 
I  went  to  the  room  where  Horton  dispensed  justice,  and  found 
him  behind  a  railing  seated  at  a  small  table  with  the  Mississippi 
code  in  his  hand.  John  Dixon  and  'Mack-leg"  were  there,  but 
no  lookers-on.  After  turning  the  code  tirst  one  end  up  and  then 
the  other  several  times,  he  announced:  "  Dis  court  am  assem- 
bled to  hear  the  case  of  Gen.  P^-ench  for  componmi  a  felony 
with  John  Dixon." 

Valliant  seemed  to  be  swallowing  something  that  was  swell- 
ing in  his  throat,  but  he  rose  and  went  near  the  table  and  said: 
"Will  your  honor  let  me  have  the  papers  in  this  case^' 

"  What  papers  you  want?     I  am  done  hab  none." 

"Where  is  the  affidavit  made  against  Gen.  French  T' 

"I  just  told  you,  Mr.  Valliant,  I  done  hab  none." 

"Well,  how  could  you  ai-rest  a  person  without  charge  being 
made '.  " 

"Sir,  dis  court  has  been  informed  dat  Gen.  French  swore 
John  Dixon  stole  two  bales  ob  his  cotton,  which  am  an  offense, 
and  then  done  settled  and  composed  it,  which  am  a  crime 
against  the  law,  and  an  insult  to  the  majesty  ob  de  State  of 
Mississippi." 

Here  the  "jack-leg '"  injected  a  remark  to  the  judge,  when  Val- 
liant asked  him:  "Are  you  engaged  as  an  attorney  in  this  case? " 

He  replied:  "  I  am.'' 

"Then  I  wish  to  see  your  license." 

At  this  Horton  said:  "  De  gentleman  wants  to  see  your  li- 
cense.    Go  and  get  it,  sir." 

While  he  was  a})sent  in  quest  of  the  paper  \'alliant  read  the 
law  to  the  coiu't.  showing  his  honor  that  the  license  must  be 
Srrantcd  1»\'  the  ( "ircuil  ( 'oinl. 


"CoMi'Osimr'  A  Felony.  337 

When  the  license  was  handed  to  Valliant  he  read  it  to  the 
court,  and,  it  being  one  granted  hy  the  ChanceUor,  was  of  no 
authority.  At  this  information  Ilorton  rose  from  his  seat,  and 
in  a  loud  voice  said:  ''Sir,  you  will  stand  aside.  You  have 
imposed  on  dis  court,  and  am  no  more  a  lawyer  in  any  case 
in  court  here."" 

When  this  incident  was  over,  and  the  indignant  court  had 
composed  itself,  Valliant  tried  again  to  satisfy  the  judge  that 
there  was  no  case  Ijefore  the  court;  but  he  insisted  that  I  had 
composed  a  felony,  and  that  his  court  was  bound  to  "'vestigate 
what  am  a  crime  in  de  eye  of  de  law."  Under  the  argument 
and  showing  of  my  attorney,  however,  the  judge  ])egan  to 
weaken,  especially  when  told  that  he  would  be  held  responsible 
for  this  unwarrantal)Ie  arrest. 

Valliant  now  Avhispered  to  me:  "'  We  will  have  to  buy  out  of 
this." 

"All  right,"  was  the  reply. 

Then  my  attorney  went  to  the  table,  and  ([uietly  whispered  to 
Horton:  •'Will  ten  dollars  settle  expenses r' 

A  ten-dollar  l>ill  was  handed  the  judge,  and  that  sum  coinpoxed 
the  felony,  the  feelings  of  the  court,  and  the  otiended  majesty 
of  the  State. 

Valliant  was  the  wit  of  the  (xreenville  bar,  and  a  true  friend. 
Some  years  ago  he  was  called  fi-om  his  field  of  usefulness  and 
sorrowing  friends  to 

Sleep  the  sleep  tliat  knows  no  l)reakini»:. 

These  are  not  a  tithe  of  my  personal  experience  with  the  Bu- 
reau and  the  courts.     They  were  almost  daily  annoyances  to  all. 

One  day  I  received  a  note  from  the  agent  of  the  Freedmen's 
Bureau  to  come  to  his  office  if  ccmvenient.  I  went  as  requested; 
foimd  there  one  of  my  hands,  who  had  no  common  sense,  and  was 
told  he  complained  that  I  had  not  settled  with  him  agreeably  to 
the  contract;  and  when  the  agent  asked  him  what  complaint  he 
had  to  make  he  said  that  I  had  paid  him  only  a  //^///,  whereas  I 
had  promised  him  nfoiirt/i.,  and  insisted  that  four  was  more  than 
two. 

But  I  pass  from  the  recital  of  these  petty  annoyances  to  lar- 
ger ones.     The  circuit  judge  <ij>jKi!iifed  was  named  S ^,  and 

in  political  parlance  he  was  a  ''scallywag."    It  would  seem  that, 

09, 


338  Two  Wars. 

t(»  luiike  his  loyalty  ai)parent,  he  imposed  harsh  sentences  or 
punishments  on  neai'ly  every  white  person  convicted,  and  lie 
committed  personally  some  criminal  ottenses. 

It  was.  I  l)elievc,  in  the  Avinter  of  ISTG  or  1S7T  that  I  was  a 
mem])er  of  the  irrand  jury  of  Washington  County.  All  those 
who  were  summoned — twelve  whites  and  six  negroes — answered 
to  their  names.  The  judge  excused  one  member,  and  accepted 
another  person,  who  was  sworn  in.  The  matter  of  a  murder  was 
among  other  things  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  grand  jury. 
All  voted  against  tinding  a  true  bill  except  two  other  members 
and  myself.  This  same  day  (Saturday)  we  were  about  to  lind 
an  incru-tmcnt  against  the  judge  for  falsely  representing  himself 
as  surety  on  the  bond  of  the  notorious  Bolton,  who  was  ap- 
pointed county  treasurer,  the  facts  in  the  case  being  that  the 
judge  did  not  sign  his  name  to  the  bond,  but  told  his  clerk  of 
the  coui't  to  sign  it  for  him.  To  this  the  clerk  made  oath,  l)ut 
excused  himself  by  informing  us  that  "it  is  conuuon  practice 
now." 

On  Siuiday  Bolton  gave  a  champagne  dinner  to  the  judge, 
and  it  was  there  arranged  that  the  judge  should  dismiss  the  grand 
jury  on  Monday  morning  to  prevent  indictments  being  found 
against  Jummlf  <ntd  BoJtoit.  The  excuse  ottered  was  that  put- 
ting a  juror  on  in  the  place  of  one  excused  was  irregular,  and 
their  findings  would  be  void,  and  also  we  had  failed  to  find  a  true 
bill  against  a  certain  man.  And  so  we  were  all  discharged  with- 
out retaining  thr  l],r>,  who  voted  to  find  a  true  bill,  and  a  new 
jury  was  empaneled.  That  night  the  negroes  called  a  mass  meet- 
ing to  condenm  these  proceedings  of  the  judge;  but  the  meeting 
was  captured  through  the  intiuence  of  two  negroes — Gray,  the 
.state  senator,  and  Ross,  a  negro  from  Kentucky — and  resolu- 
tions j)asse(l  complimenting  the  judge.  The  tine  hand  of  Bolton 
was  seen  in  this.  Some  months  after,  the  judge  called  on  me, 
and  said  he  wished  to  say  that  he  discharged  that  grand  jury  be- 
cause they  did  not  find  an  indictment  against  S ,  who  had 

killed  a  man  in  an  altercation.  I  rcplic(l:  'kludge,  no  person 
in  Greenville  believes  that  to  l»c  true." 

The  ju<lge  was  afterwards  petitioned  l>y  the  members  of  the 
bar  to  resign.  'I'he  list  was  headed  by  the  distinguished  attor- 
ney, William  A.  Percy.  Sl.i'  numths  after  this  a  person  ap- 
peared   in    (iiccnv  illc    with    a   challenge  for    (\)I.    Percy.     For 


ExposiNc  Villainy.  339 

amusement  Percy  said:  ""The  judge  lias  had  six  months  to  prac- 
tice at  a  tarofet,  and  I  also  want  a  little  time  to  practice;  then  1 
will  accommodate  him."  After  worrying  the  hearer  of  the  car- 
tel some  time  he  accepted  the  challenge,  the  tight  to  take  place 
on  an  island  in  the  Mississippi  river.  Nothing  further  was 
heard  from  the  challenger,  and  he  died  soon  after,  it  is  reported, 
from  mortiti cation. 

Before  the  judge  had  dismissed  the  grand  jury  it  had  found  a 
number  of  indictments  against  persons  who  belonged  to  a  secret 
association  of  freedmen,  known  as  the  "Band  of  Brothers  and 
iSisters,"  ])ound  hy  oaths  to  rob,  burn  the  town,  and  murder  the 
whites.  The  day  these  disclosures  were  made  the  witnesses  were 
shot  at  in  the  night,  and  claimed  protection. 

Bolton,  who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  United  States  volunteers 
during  the  war,  was  president  of  the  band;  Gray,  negro  state 
senator,  vice  president;  and  a  scallywag  named  Brentlinger,  from 
Kentucky,  was  treasurer.  He  was  also  postmaster,  through  Bol- 
ton's influence.  Bolton  spent  most  of  his  time  in  the  post  office, 
and  induced  Brentlinger  to  lend  him  public  funds  to  the  amount 
of  about  ^3,000.  An  effort  was  made  to  destroy  the  post  office 
books  by  setting  fire  to  the  office,  but  a  man  fortunately  saved 
the  books.  Bolton,  however,  got  them  from  the  office  as  a  pack- 
age purporting  to  have  come  hy  mail,  and  destroyed  them. 

Then  came  a  United  States  post  office  inspector,  who  discovered 
the  loss  of  funds,  books,  etc.,  and  removed  or  suspended  the 
postmaster.  Bolton  went  on  Brentlinger \s  bond,  and  accom- 
panied him  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  where  he  was  tried  before  Judge 
Hill.  Bolton  told  Brentlinger  that  he  had  arranged  it  with  the 
judge.  If  he  would  remain  silent,  and  make  no  disclosures,  he 
would  be  acquitted.  He  was  found  guilty,  and  sent  to  the  peni- 
tentiary at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

In  hope  of  convicting  some  of  these  scoundrels,  1  wrote  to 
President  Grant  for  permission  to  visit  the  penitentiary  and  ol)- 
tain  Brentlinger's  testimony,  and  the  attorney-general,  Alphonso 
Taft.  to  whom  the  request  was  referred,  gave  permission. 

In  due  time  I  made  the  visit  to  All)any,  and  with  the  keeper, 
Pillsbury,  saw  Brentlinger.  He  wrote  out  what  he  knew  about 
the  society,  acknowledged  that  he  was  treasurer;  but  from  timid- 
ity would  give  but  little  testimony  of  his  own  knowledge,  and 
made  it  mostly  hearsay  evidence.    It  corroborated  exactly  what 


340  Two  Wars. 

we  learned  in  the  jurv  room.  No  use  was  made  of  this  testi- 
mony, because  all  who  were  implicated  aorreed  to  (|uit  tlie  State 
and  never  come  back.  1  have  this  testimony  and  the  attorney- 
ofeneral's  letter. 

The  military  sfovernor  ap|)ointed  one  T.  L.  Webber  sheriff  of 
the  county.  Without  the  knowlcd^i^e  of  any  one,  he  falsely  re- 
ported thousands  of  acres  of  plantation  lands,  and  other  sections 
of  land,  sold  for  taxes.  This  he  did  for  two  years.  Not  a  name 
of  any  delinquent  taxpayer  was  ever  pu})lished,  and  no  one  at- 
tended any  sale.  Planters  continued  paying  their  taxes  regu- 
larly. At  last  it  was  discovered  that  the  reported  list  of  taxable 
lands  did  not  eml)race  half  the  lands  on  which  taxes  were  paid. 
A  list  was  obtained  for  the  grand  jury.  I  found  that  six  hundred 
and  forty  acres  out  of  the  heart  of  my  plantation  had  l)een  re- 
ported sold;  Bourge's  plantation  of  two  thousand  acres,  all  sold, 
and  so  on;  yet  we  were  paying  taxes  all  the  same. 

Next  ijcdr  I  know  of  but  two  planters  who  paid  any  taxes  in 
the  county.  Had  (iov.  A— —  remained,  there  would  not  have 
Ijeen  any  taxes  paid  in  the  State.  He  wrote  to  Bolton  to  know- 
how  he  Avas  to  get  any  salary,  or  any  courts  could  be  held,  or 
Legislatures  meet,  etc.,  and  was  told  that  the  services  of  all  such 
were  not  required,  etc. 

The  aiid!toi'  had  been  receiving  from  the  sheritl'  only  the 
money  received  from  lands  on  thr  fax  Jht.,  while  he  (the  sheriti) 
pocketed  all  money  })aid  on  lands  that  he  pretended  were  sold 
and  not  taxable — by  "sokr"'  meaning  forfeited  to  the  govern- 
ment. To  escape  perjui-y,  Wel)l)er's  rejyort^  of  taxable  lands 
w^ere  not  signed  l)y  him.  hut  by  his  brother,  a  worthless  fel- 
low. 

When  the  people  elected  a  negro  sherilf  over  Webber,  he 
l)ought  the  office  of  sheritl'  fioiii  liim  for  $1,000  and  the  negro 
sheriff  (O.  Winslow)  appointed  him  his  deputy.  Webber,  w'hen 
detected,  turned  into  the  bank  S4(\(i()(>  out  of  perhaps  >c^l5(i,U00 
stolen,  and  went  to  Floi'ida.  The  ablest  lawyers  said  he  could 
not  l)e  convicted  undei*  the  existing  condition  of  affaii's. 

Those  who  would  not  ])ay  taxes  were  permitted  to  redeem 
their  lauds  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  by  paying  back  taxes,  the 
title  coming  fi'om  the  State.  The  S4(>, <»<>(»  was  disti'ibuted  among 
the  owners  of  the  forfeited  lauds,  and  used  in  ])art  payment  of 
the  taxes.     O  reconstruction,  what  a  curse  tliou  wast! 


Unceutain  Help.  341 

Had  Ames  remained,  there  would  have  been  presented  a  sin- 
ofular  revolution — the  people  of  the  State  ])eacefally  pm-suing 
their  avocations  witliout  a  orovernment:  every  function  of  state 
o^overninent  would  have  been  suspended.  When  the  governor 
applied  to  Grant  for  trooi)s  he  was  refused.  Grant  telegraphed 
that  "the  public  was  tired  of  the  annual  autunnial  outl)reaks  in 
the  South." 

Another  source  of  annoyance  to  the  planters — nay,  it  was 
ruinous — was  tlie  want  of  reliable  labor.  (Capital  could  not  com- 
mand la1)or  in  the  rich  Yazoo  bottoms,  and  it  had  to  be  ol)tained 
from  a  distance. 

I  went  to  Wytheville,  Franklin,  and  Danville,  Va.,  for  labor. 
In  Danville  I  made  a  contract  with  a  man  named  Wilson  to  })ring 
me  some  thirty  hands.  About  the  middle  of  February  he  arrived 
with  the  negroes.  T  paid  him  81,040  for  transportation  and 
services.  One  pleasant  noon  in  May  a  servant  came  in  and  told 
me  a  certain  negro  was  leaving  the  place;  he  was  the  last  of  the 
men  that  Wilson  brought,  except  a  Spanish  negro,  who  was  paint- 
ing ni}'  house. 

My  neighbor  Jackson  went  to  Richmond,  Va.,  and  obtained 
some  forty  hands;  paid  their  way  to  Greenville.  Their  contract 
made  was  that  they  were  to  raise  a  crop  of  cotton  and  corn,  and 
out  of  their  share  of  the  crop  they  were  to  repay  expenses  of 
transportation,  provisions,  etc.  Gradually  they  began  to  leave 
him,  and  went  into  the  em})loyment  of  negroes  who  had  rented 
land.  They  were  hired  for  tAvo  bales  of  cotton.  By  this  pro- 
ceeding they  escaped  y)aying  transportation. 

One  day  in  May  the  last  of  Jackson's  hands  (on  ^Monday) 
went  to  the  smokehouse  and  obtained  their  rations  for  the  week, 
and  then  quit  the  plantation.  They  were  arrested  for  breach 
of  contract  and  obtaining  supplies  under  false  pretenses,  and 
were  tried  before  the  notorious  Judge  Bolton.  Whilst  the  trial 
was  going  on,  Bolton  asked  my  views  of  the  matter.  I  told  him 
if  they  were  acquitted  every  contract  recorded  in  court  would 
be  worthless,  and  it  would  damage  the  planting  interest  in  the 
county  |)erhaps  two  hundred  thousand  chdlars.  Nevertheless,  he 
decided  that  there  was  no  evidence  to  prove  that  the  hands  had 
any  intention  of  leaving  lohen  they  drew  their  rations,  although 
they  had  a  place  engaged  and  left  as  soon  as  they  got  the  pro- 
visions.    For  months  1  never  retired  to  rest  witlu)ut  apprehen- 


342  7' 110  Wans. 

sion  tliJit  soiiu'  of  my  hands  would  \v-a\v  duriiiix  the  night,  at 
the  persuasions  of  visitiii<r  spies. 

Another  trouhle  was  to  clieek  the  thoiioflitlcss  extravao-anoe  of 
the  freechnen.  If  they  were  larirely  in  debt,  when  fall  came, 
they  would  not  iratiier  their  cotton,  believino:  it  mortgao;ed  to 
the  merchants  for  all  it  would  l>rinir.  l)ut  (juit,  and  pick  cotton 
on  some  other  place,  by  the  hundred,  for  cash.  Of  these  things- 
there  was  no  end. 

The  counties  of  Holivar,  Washington,  and  Issaquena  com])osed 
a  levee  district  in  Mississipi)i.  and  had  for  years  protected  the 
lands  from  overHow  by  constructing  levees.  Funds  were  ob- 
tained by  tax  on  lands  and  by  sales  of  ])()nds.  When  the  war 
ended,  1  was  elected  president  of  the  board.  Gen.  A  Ivan  C.  Gil- 
lem  was  military  governor,  and  gave  me  all  the  aid  he  could  to  re- 
build the  levees.  I  negotiated  the  bonds  in  New  York  Gity  at 
par,  and  repaired  the  levees  and  saved  the  plantations  from 
overtiow.  When  Ames*  became  military  governor,  he  one 
day  sent  a  man  to  Greenville  with  an  order  dismissing  us,  and 
required  the  oftice  to  be  turned  over  to  the  bearer,  etc.;  and 
this,  too.  when  the  river  was  at  its  highest  stage.  1  went 
to  Jackson  to  see  him.  I  demanded  the  grounds  for  his  action 
in  the  matter,  and  was  refused.  At  this  time  the  river  was  out 
of  its  banks  everywhere,  except  in  our  district.  I  wrote  to 
President  (irant.  and  he  answered:  ''You  should  have  tele- 
graphed at  once."  (len.  Sherman  wrote,  ''Yours  is  not  a  pul>- 
lic  office,  and  Ames  is  Avrong.  etc.,  meddling  with  private  cor- 
porations." or  words  to  that  etiVct. 

Whilst  in  Jackson,  the  cai)ltal  of  Mississippi,  1  was  ottered 
the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  legislators  who  made  our  laws, 
composed  mainly  of  carpet l)agirers  and  negroes.  For  this  ])ur- 
pose  1  obtained  a  seat  l)y  tiie  sidewalk  on  the  main  street  lead- 
ing to  the  capitol. 

As  the  hour  to  meet  had  arrived,  down  this  street  could  be 
seen  the  members  ai)proaching.  (Jenerally  they  came  two  to- 
gether, arm  in  arm,  a  carpetbagger  and  a  negro  in  close  confab. 
The  whites  were  clothed  in  gai'ments  of  \arious  makes  and  col- 
ors; the  negroes  rejoiced  in  black  clothing,  with  I'rince  Al- 
bert coats  and  silk  hats  and  gojd-hcadcd  canes.     Down  the  ave- 

*Api)oint('(l  June  15,  1808. 


Sc  i:\Es  L\  TiiK  I  lor  si:.  34iJ 

nue  and  fur  away  could  be  scoii  llic  white  of  their  eyes,  teeth^ 
shirts,  and  enormous  Collars. 

The  carpetbago^er  was  generally  holdiuir  on  to  the  arm  of  his 
colored  brother,  and  engaofed  in  conversation;  and,  judging  from 
the  gestures,  they  were  advocating  some  benevolent  measure  for 
the  benefit  of  the  "wards  of  the  nation,"  and  their  own  })ros- 
perity.  One  other  observaticm  I  made:  there  were  no  small  feet, 
and  not  an  arched  instep;  Hap,  flap,  came  down  their  fiat  feet. 
I  had  seen  enough;  I  thought  the  negro  had  the  more  honest 
face. 

Thence  I  went  into  the  House.  Ye  gods,  what  a  sight!  The 
floor  w;as  dirty,  the  many  spittoons  were  all  filthy — filled  with 
(|nids  of  tobacco,  stumps  of  cigars,  pieces  of  paper  around  them 
were  cemented  to  the  floor  l)y  dried  tobacco  juice;  fumes  of  to- 
l)acco  tilled  the  house,  so  that  the  air  was  foul  and  unpleasant. 

The  meml)ers  were  seated,  })lack  and  white  side  l)y  side,  all 
over  the  house,  perhaps  to  guide  them  in  voting;  and  they  lolled 
on  the  desks  and  chairs.  A  negro  would  lay  his  head  on  the 
desk  of  his  white  neighbor,  look  him  in  the  face,  and  laugh  with 
great  glee  at  what  was  told  him;  the  conversation  was  so  loud 
and  the  laughter  sf)  boisterous  that  the  Speaker  could  not  com- 
mand silence:  he  pounded  with  the  gavel,  and  shouted  "Order! 
order!"  till  his  voice  was  drowned  1)y  the  cries  of  "Master 
Speakyar!"  from  the  negroes,  while  the  whites  shouted  and 
waved  their  arms  frantically  to  catch  the  Speaker's  eye  for  rec- 
ognition. The  whole  scene  w^as  one  of  confusion  not  unlike  the 
Gold  Exchange,  New  York,  in  days  of  yore,  or  the  Stock  Ex- 
change. 

I  then  went  to  the  Senate  chamber.  It  was  cleaner  than  the 
House,  and  better  order  was  preserved;  but  what  a  travesty  on 
intelligence  and  decorum,  and  shame  on  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  North,  that  made  this  not  t)nly  possible  but  com- 
mon, and  laughed  at  it  with  joyous  hearts;  and  wherefore^  It 
was  an  assembly  of  mostly  dishonest  white  men  influencing  the 
uneducated  negro  meml)ers  to  enact  laws  whereby  the  State  was, 
by  bonded  indebtedness,  plundered  of  millions  of  dollars.  Their 
reign  is  ended. 

"I  myself  have  seen  the  ungodly  in  great  powci-  and  flourish- 
ing like  a  green  bay  tree:  I  went  by  again,  and  io.  he  was  gone." 
Adieu!     The  royal   Bengal  tiger,  when  he  once  tastes  human 


344  T\ro  Wars. 

blood,  will  (Icpopiilalc  :i  \  ilhige;  .so  the  loyal  carpetbagger,  hav- 
ing tasted  Southern  plunder,  went  honu'  and  devised  a  scheme  of 
trust  companies  now  in  o]ieration. 

Tiien  came  taxation.  On  this  matter  1  will  merely  remark  that 
on  realty  it  was  about  ten  per  cent.  Government  tax  on  c-ot- 
ton,  in  the  aggregate,  was  sixty-seven  million  dollars.  On  cot- 
ton it  was  (all  told),  including  charges  l>y  the  government,  about 
twenty  dollars  per  bale.  There  should  now  be  on  tile  in  the  De- 
partment of  Agriculture  a  letter  written  by  me  to  ]Mr.  Isaac 
Newton,  commissioner,  telling  him  that,  were  it  practical,  1 
would  deed  to  the  Tnited  States  the  land  planted  in  cotton,  if  it 
were  exenn)ted  from  taxation  one  year,  which  meant — the  mar- 
ket value  of  the  land  was  twenty  dollars  per  acre;  and  as  one 
acre  would  })roduce  a  bale  of  cotton,  and  the  tax  on  the  bale  was 
twenty  dollars,  the  tax  was  ecpial  t(j  the  value  of  the  land — that 
was  confiscation.  An  acre  in  cotton,  if  it  produced  a  bale,  was 
taxed,  as  1  have  related:  but  if  })lanted  in  c(n'n  or  soAvn  in  wheat, 
the  produce  was  free.  All  these  legal  pilferings,  vexations, 
insults,  arrogance,  and  trials  to  our  families  were  in  silence  and 
poverty  submitted  to,  that  our  children  might  have  food  und 
clothing.  Our  })atience  in  adversity,  amidst  trials  and  suH'er- 
ings,  gives  greater  evidence  of  elevation  and  dignity  of  charac- 
ter than  did  matchless  achievements  in  arms.  In  the  tented 
tield  we  foimd  redress  for  Avrongs;  in  reconstruction  years  we 
lived  in  expectancy,  as  the  Christians  lived  in  the  years  of  Nero, 
not  knowing  what  would  befall  us  next. 

The  negi'oes,  when  set  free,  became  very  pious,  and  gave  more 
time  to  their  devotions  than  to  the  crops.  After  the  Freedmen's 
Bureau  agents  took  their  departure,  nearly  all  of  them  ''got  re- 
ligion" and  wanted  to  preach.  Their  protracted  ("distracted" 
they  called  them)  meetings  contimied  all  night  long,  for  five 
and  six  weeks  continuously.  ]\I.cn  and  women  would  leave  the 
church  (I  had  one  on  the  plantation)  after  sunrise,  go  to  the 
tield  direct,  and  sleep  Iciuiing  on  their  hoes.  1  found  one  sleep- 
ing on  the  creek  liank.  and  (»n  asking  him  what  was  the  matter, 
he  said:  *'(),  1  have  got  religion  in  me  as  ])ig  as  a  yearling 
calf."  And  thus  piety  im})aired  industry  to  an  alarming  extent, 
witlioiit  inipr(»\  iiig  morality. 

IVisliop  \\'ilmci-  (  Kpiscopal),  dui'ing  the  war,  had  omitted  the 
usual  j)rayer  "for  tlic   President  of  the  United  States  and  all 


The  Shotcvs  Polwv.  345 

others  in  authority,"  uud  this  continued  after  the  surrender. 
For  this  offense  Maj.  Gen.  George  H.  Thomas  was  so  distressed 
that  he,  l)y  orders,  caused  the  bishop  and  the  dertry  in  the  dio- 
cese to  cease  from  preachin":;  and  this  gave  rise  to  a  discussion, 
which  was  terminated  by  the  President  denouncing  the  silly  or- 
der and  revoking  it.  1  have  no  doubt  of  Gen.  Thomas's  sincer- 
ity, for  he  was  prudent  and  cautious,  and  /le  must  have  been 
really  convinced  that  President  Johnson,  and  all  others  in  au- 
thority with  him,  needed  the  prayers  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  to 
bless  them  and  replenish  their  grace. 

The  Bishop  was  not  as  desirous  of  praying  for  the  President 
of  the  I'nited  States  as  was  a  young  priest  after  the  surrender. 
He  had  omitted  praying  for  President  Davis  since  his  capture, 
and  had  not  decided  what  to  do  when  the  Sabbath  came:  but 
found  relief,  when  asked  by  a  United  States  army  officer  if  he 
had  any  objection  to  using  the  old  prayer  for  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  by  answering:  "No,  none  whatever:  for  I 
know  of  no  one  who  needs  our  prayers  more  than  he." 

The  few  incidents  of  my  own  experience  that  I  have  narrated 
are  to  illustrate  the  condition  of  the  people  of  the  South  during 
the  years  of  reconstruction  (annexation),  and  for  preservation 
for  future  ages;  to  show  the  ills,  vexations,  humiliations,  and 
indignities  so  unjustly  and  designedly  imposed  upon  them  as  a 
spiteful  punishment  for  daring  to  assert  their  rights  and  defend 
their  homes.  The  fifteenth  amendment  to  the  Constitution  has 
brought  forth  bitter  fruit  to  the  progress  of  the  freedmen  and 
the  peaceful  progress  of  the  whole  country  l)y  offering  the  negro 
a  dependent  support  on  politics  rather  than  labor.  Their  votes 
were  generally  in  the  market,  and  their  sale  at  the  presidential 
nominations  for  office  in  the  Federal  service  in  the  South  con- 
solidated the  white  people  against  them  when  harmony  would 
otherwise  have  existed. 

.  The  State  of  IVIississippi  was  saved  from  utter  ruin  by  what 
the  North  called  "the  shotgun  policy.""  Seeing  nothing  but 
poverty  and  wretchedness  before  us,  it  was  determined  to  rescue 
the  State  from  the  hands  of  the  carpetbaggers  and  negroes  by  a 
compromise  with  the  freedmen.  In  our  county  we  offered  them 
the  offices  of  congressmen,  the  sheriff'  of  the  county,  clerk  of  the 
chancery  court,  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  and  justice  of  the 
peace,  but  not  a  meml)er  of  the  Legislature.   The  educated  whites 


346  y'lio  Wahs. 

were  to  redeoiii  the  Statt'  from  perdition  in  llic  lialls  of  leirislu- 
tioii. 

In  the  hustinofs  absolute  protection  ])y  anus  was  pledt^ed  to  all 
freednien  who  voted  the  Denioeratie  ticket,  and  to  those  who 
voted  the  radical  ticket,  not  a  haii-  of  their  heads  should  be 
touched,  if  order  was  maintained  ))y  tliem;  l)ut  under  all  circum- 
stances a  free  election  s/iduld  he  lield.  a  ml  ju  are  prefer  eed.  Ev- 
ery one  knew  that  a  disturbance  imperiled  life.  The  consequence 
was  that  a  more  cheerful,  peaceful  election  never  was  held.  One 
party  had  yellow  tickets  and  the  other  white,  open  in  their  hands, 
and  the  vote  could  be  counted  as  well  outside  as  inside  at  the  polls; 
and  furthermore  the  radical  white  carpet bao^crers  were  in  an  un- 
mistakable manner  informed  that  they  would  l)e  held  responsi- 
ble if  peace  at  the  polls  was  not  maintained.  Thus  was  the  State 
redeemed  from  the  hands  of  the  corrupt  cai"})etba<rirers  and  ckk- 
v\i\)ifolh>irer.s  of  the  United  States  army,  and  all  cried:  "Amen  I" 
The  joy  that  followed  cannot  l)e  realized,  and  cheerful  industry 
commenced.  The  sufferino^.  vexations,  and  aofony  of  mind  of 
the  people  South  durinof  reconstruction  years,  unless  written 
by  those  who  endured  them,  will  no  more  be  known  in  history 
than  are  the  cries  for  mercy  uttered  in  the  chambers  of  tor- 
ture in  the  prisons  and  baronial  castles  of  Euroj)e  during  the 
Middle  Ages.  And  now  for  all  these  malicious  tortures,  for 
the  state  debts,  for  the  enfi-anchising  of  the  negro,  and  the  race 
problem  the  harshest  condenmation  1  have  known  to  be  ex- 
pressed by  the  party  which  imposed  them  on  us  is:  *'lt  was  a 
blunderl*" 

In  a  statesman  "<'<  hlnnder  ix  <i  cr'rmcr  said  Napoleon.  So  by 
parity  of  reasoning,  you  can  discoNci-  in  what  class  you  have 
])]aced  yourselves.  This  election  is  the  hegira  of  misrule  and 
vampirism. 

It  is  difficult  to  subscribe  lo  the  dogma  of  ""an  indissoluble 
union  of  indestructible  States."  It  is  at  vai'iance  with  tiie  founda- 
tion of  all  government;  ""for  governments  are  founded  on  su- 
perior force  that  subjects  everything  to  the  will  of  the  governor, 
or  it  is  founded  on  a  compact,  exjjress  or  tacit.  .  .  .  ^^'hen 
founded  on  foi'ce,  i-esistance  is  im[)lied.  ...  In  a  govern- 
ment founded  on  an  express  agreement,  or  comi)act,  resistance 
is  unlawful  while  the  ruler  maintains  his  part  of  the  contract. 
\\  hen  he  violates  those  rules  resistance  is  legal  and  justiliat)le. 


Ix  THE  (\\iox  OR  Oct  of  It.  347 

llenoe  in  all  ^uNcrniiieuts  rcsistiiiK-o  is  naturally  inlicrcnl." 
(Lord  Woodhouselee.) 

In  the  twelfth  centnry,  for  instance,  there  "was  in  Ara^on 
the  Justiza,  an  otiicer  elected  by  the  people,  who  was  the  su- 
preme interpreter  of  the  law  and  protector  of  the  people.  .  .  . 
This  orj-eat  officer  liad  likewise  the  priviletje  of  receivino^  in  the 
name  of  the  jj'oph  the  king's  oath  of  coronation,  and  durin":  the 
ceremony  he  held  a  naked  sword  pointed  at  the  heart  of  the  sov- 
ereiofn.  whom  he  thus  addressed:  '  We,  your  equals,  constitute  you 
our  sovereign,  and  we  voluntarily  engage  to  obey  your  mandates 
on  condition  that  you  protect  us  in  the  enjoyment  of  our  rights; 
if  otherwise,  not.'"  Here  we  find  reserved  rights  of  the  people, 
as  in  our  Constitution. 

States  appear  to  be  destructible.  From  the  Pillars  of  Her- 
cules, all  around  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea — where 
dwelt  the  people  to  whom  God  gave  laws  amidst  the  thunders  of 
Horeb  and  others,  whence  came  language  and  most  of  our  civ- 
ilization and  religion — are  found  the  ashes  of  dead  empires. 

The  Confederate  States  must  have  been  out  of  the  Union  ^  un- 
less we  admit  that  the  English  language  is  not  expressive  enough 
to  clearly  describe  events.  To  me  the  act  of  Congress  passed 
February  17,  1870,  to  "admit  the  State  of  Mississippi,"  the 
proclamations  to  "come  back,''*  to  "restore  the  State,"  etc.,  are 
but  a  few  of  the  proofs  that  we  were  out  of  the  Union:  and  the 
declaration  of  war,  the  blockade,  belligerent  rights  show  that 
the  Confederate  States  were  independent.  We  were  "rebels" 
(so  called)  designedly  to  enable  the  United  States  to  escape  pay- 
ing Confederate  bonds  held  by  foreign  powers,  and  to  settle 
other  international  questions  with  them.  We  were  in  the 
laiion  or  out  of  the  Union,  as  the  exigency  of  the  occasion  re- 
quired. 

And  this  reminds  me  of  an  incident  that  occurred  in  the  sec- 
tion room  at  the  United  States  Military  Academy  in  1841.  Capt. 
J.  A.  Thomas  was  assistant  professor  of  ethics.  The  subject: 
"The  Constitution  of  the  United  States."  He  there  said:  "Gen- 
tlemen, there  are  latent  powers  in  this  Constitution  that  will  be 
found  to  meet  every  emergency  that  may  arise."  And  now, 
behold,  since  then  I     "The  higher  law,"  "the  e'xtra  constitu- 

*Lincoln's December  proclamation  says:  "Such  States  shall  be  received 
again  into  the  Union." 


348  Tno  Wars. 

tioiiiil  measures,"  "the  conliscation  of  property,"  "greenlmeks 
a  k'iral  tender."  etc.,  the  wealth  of  the  nation  made  exempt 
from  taxation  ])y  tlie  supreme  court,  and  the  trusts,  etc.  Truly 
we  were  a  conquered  nation,  because  the  United  States  had  to  re- 
sort to  all  the  constitutional  rcMjuirements  of  foreio^n  warfare. 

In  the  platform  accepted  by  ]\Ir.  Lincoln  is  this  resolution: 
'"'' Resolved^  That  we  maintain  inviolate  the  rights  of  the 
States,  and  especially  the  right  of  each  State  to  order  and  con- 
trol its  own  domestic  institutions,  according  to  its  own  judgment 
exclusively."  And  in  his  inaugural  he  said:  "'I  have  no  pur- 
pose, directly  or  indirectly,  to  interfere  with  slavery  in  any  of 
the  slaveholding  States  of  the  Union." 

Then  Congress  passed,  February  11,  1861,  the  following: 
'"'  Rt'soJiyt],  That  neither  Congress,  nor  the  people,  nor  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  nonslaveholding  States  have  the  right  to  legis- 
late upon  or  interfere  with  slavery  in  any  of  the  slaveholding 
States  of  the  Union," 

These  resolutions  and  })romises  were  brushed  aside  like  reeds 
in  the  path  of  conquest.  Their  armies  marched  on  without  s\\y 
check  by  the  act  of  Jidhcdx  corjms.,  as  it  was  suspended  by  article 
2  in  the  President's  proclamation  of  September  22,  1862,  which 
reads:  "That  the  writ  of  hahecis  corpus  is  suspended  in  regard 
to  all  persons  arrested,  or  who  are  now  or  hereafter  during  the 
rebellion  shall  be  imprisoned  in  any  fort,  camp,  arsenal,  militarj^ 
prison,  or  other  place  of  confinement  by  any  military  authority 
or  by  sentence  of  any  court-martial  or  military  connnission." 

1  remember  a  story  on  the  Conunittee  of  the  French  Acade- 
my appointed  to  prepare  the  "Academy  Dictionary."  Their 
definition  of  a  crdh  was  "a  small,  red  fish  which  walks  back- 
ward." "Gentlemen,"  said  Cuvier,  "your  definition  would  be 
perfect,  only  for  three  exceptions:  The  crab  is  not  a  fish,  it  is 
not  red,  and  it  does  not  walk  backward." 

So,  if  the  Union  roas  tndis.soluh/e^  and  the  States  were  inde- 
structible, how  could  they  be  recofistructed  and  readmitted  i  It 
is  as  erroneous  as  the  definition  of  the  crab. 

It  may  be  said,  almost  literally,  that  the  administration  for 
the  expansion  of  war  power  deposited  the  Constitution  in  the 
State  Department  for  the  use  of  the  supreme  court  after  the 
war.  They  now  ordained  a  despotic  policy  as  l)eing  more  ex- 
pedient to  run  the  government,  because  it  could  be  changed,  like 


^.v  Inalienable  Riotit.  349 

a  vane  on  a  house  top,  accordinjr  to  the  hreath  of  ])ul)lie  o])inion 
or  the  exi«:ency  of  the  times.  To  contine  their  troops  to  tlie  duty 
of  destroying  the  regular  Confederate  forces,  according  to  the 
usages  of  civilized  war,  had  heen  tried  in  vain;  but  once  freed 
from  the  restraints  of  the  Constitution  and  modern  rules  of  war, 
the  work  of  desolation  commenced  to  the  extent  that  a  ruthless 
general  reported  that  a  crow  would  have  to  carry  its  provisions 
if  it  crossed  the  valley  he  had  laid  waste.  His  example  was  ex- 
celled by  others.  The  truth  is  that  if  the  North  had  not  disre- 
garded the  Constitution,  it. would  have  ruined  tiieni.  It  was  a 
government  of  opportunism. 

As  regards  reconstruction  (so  called),  I  will  only  observe  that 
a  concjuered  people  are  obliged  to  accept  such  terms  as  the  con- 
queror oli'ers. 

In  our  case  the  separate  or  sovereign  States  that  withdrew 
from  the  Union  were  the  parties  conquered.  The  negotiators 
for  peace  on  the  one  part  were  the  Congressional  Committee  on 
Reconstruction,  and  on  the  other  each  one  of  the  sovereign 
States  for  itself.  The  terms  ottered  the  States  respectively  were 
embodied  in  the  last  three  amendments  to  the  Constitution.  As 
these  were  accepted  they  were  admitted  into  the  Union,  each  a 
sovereign  State.  So  the  thirteenth,  fourteenth,  and  fifteenth 
articles  of  the  Constitution,  when  accepted,  became  virtually  a 
treaty  of  peace  between  the  North  and  the  South,  made  State  by 
State.  Virginia,  Texas,  and  Mississippi  were  the  last,  and  they 
did  not  accept  the  terms  ottered  until  1870,  when  they  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union. 

As  Minerva  sprung  from  the  brain  of  Jupiter,  full  grown, 
robed  in  the  panoply  of  w^ar,  and  took  her  seat  among  the  gods,  so 
the  Confederate  States — born  in  a  day,  clothed  in  all  the  attri- 
butes of  government,  complete  in  every  department — took  her 
station  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  She  exacted  from  the 
United  States  the  observance  of  international  law  on  war  and 
official  intercourse.  After  four  years  of  the  most  sanguinary 
war  of  modern  times  she  fell,  white  and  pure,  before  the  mer- 
cenary hosts  of  the  nations  arrayed  against  her.  She  died  for 
the  priceless  heritage  wrung  from  tyrants  '"''that  all  just  poioers 
of  governine'iit  are  derived  from  the  consent  of  the  govei'iied.^'' 

For  this  inalienable  right — a  right  that  has  been  exercised 
by  almost  every  nation  on  earth,  and  for  wliicli  millions  and 


350  Tno  Wars. 

millions  of  lives  have  Ijeeii  saeritieecl  tlie  States  seceded,  and  it 
will  never  die.  It  was  implanted  by  Providence  like  religion  in 
the  hearts  of  mankind.  It  is  an  invisil)le  power  behind  a  veil 
that  will  break  throu<rh  as  certainly  as  the  soul  at  death  lifts  the 
dim  veil  that  hides  the  life  beyond  the  grave.  It  is  an  occult 
power  pervading  the  air,  and  gentle  until  developed  l)y  oppres- 
sion, whether  l)y  bad  government  or  remorseless  tyranny  inci- 
dent to  aggregated  wealth  oi'  other  causes.  It  was  not  the  vic- 
tories of  the  (\)nfederate  armies:  it  was  not  l)ecause  they  gave  the 
worhl  a  Lee,  a  Johnston,  a  Forrest,  and  aKtonewall  Jackson  that 
won  the  admiration  of  the  nations;  but  because  over  all  these 
the  South  was  true  to  her  convictions  of  right.  Their  achieve- 
ments were  great,  but  their  cause  was  greater;  their  deeds  are 
inmiortal,  their  cause  eternal,  and  paid  for  in  blood.  It  will 
exist  till  tlie  leaves  of  the  judgment  l)ook  unfold. 

1  must  now  take  my  farewell  of  the  good  Confederate  soldiers 
with  whom  I  have  had  the  honor  to  serve.  I  know  their  valor 
and  their  worth.  Like  the  sibylline  books,  as  they  diminish  in 
numbers  they  will  increase  in  value,  and  with  the  last  veteran 
the  order  will  end — then  silence!  Their  valor  will  be  the  com- 
mon heritage  of  mankind.  Their  memory  will  be  revered  by 
their  posterity,  and  linger  in  the  mind  as  sweetly  as  the  fra- 
grance of  flowers.  Their  cause  let  none  gainsay;  it  is  the  birth- 
right of  all  the  ages. 

To  you,  my  children,  I  have  related  some  of  my  observations, 
and  given  a  little  of  my  experience  in  this  wonderful  nineteenth 
century. 

In  my  youth  dwellings  were  lit  up  with  candles;  then  came 
gas  and  kerosene;  now  electricity  illumes  cities  and  streets,  cars 
and  shi])s.  Steam  power  was  known,  but  it  had  not  been  ap- 
plied to  railroads  or  steamshi{)s  on  the  ocean,  or  to  many  me- 
chanical purposes.  How  well  do  1  remember  the  many  journeys 
I  made  over  the  Alleghany  Mountains  by  stage  to  Pittsl)urg, 
Brownsville,  and  Wheeling,  and  how  steam  power  superseded 
horse  power  in  ferrvl)oats,  treadmills,  and  sailing  vessels  on  the 
ocean  I 

I  have  told  you  how  I  went  with  Prof.  Morse  to  receive  what 
may  be  deemed  the  tirst  message  of  the  telegraph;  now  we  send 
messages  around  the  world. 

In  Isfi'j  I  saw  a  telephone  established  fi-om  one  house  to  an- 


A  PjwGREssivE  Age.  351 

■other,  distant  al)()ut  fifty  yards,  hy  two  younof  ladies  in  Wihninof- 
ton,  N.  C,  to  fonununic-ate  with  each  other.  To-day  we  talk 
face  to  face  a  thousand  miles. 

The  discovery  of  anaesthetics  has  alleviated  the  pain  of  the 
surgeon's  knife,  and  with  the  X  ray  he  looks  through  the  hu- 
man hody,  and  makes  visible  the  location  and  cause  of  pain,  etc. 

Durinor  this  century  the  map  of  the  world  has  had  many  changes 
by  the  Napoleonic  wars,  the  upheaval  of  1840  by  Garibaldi,  Bis- 
marck, Germany,  and  France;  and  all  Africa  is  subjugated.  In 
the  Orient — that  empire  of  occult  science  and  mystery,  of  mag- 
ic, fakirs,  castes,  and  barbaric  wealth;  six  times  invaded  from 
the  West  through  the  gates  of  India  by  Alexander,  Mahmoud, 
Genghis  Khan,  Tamerlane,  Monguls,  and  Persians — at  last,  in 
this  century,  with  a  population  of  over  300,000,000,  has  passed 
into  the  possession  of  England,  and  Queen  Victoria  is  Empress 
of  India!  What  destiny  awaits  China,  with  her  400,000,(»00  peo- 
ple? 

We  have  witnessed  Spain  lose  possession  of  all  her  colonies  in 
South  America,  Mexico,  and  her  West  Indies  possessions  and  the 
Philippine  Islands;  the  slave  trade,  conceded  to  New  England, 
ended  only  in  1808;  imprisonment  for  debt  was  in  existence 
when  I  was  young  in  some  of  the  States — in  short,  such  has 
been  the  progress  of  liberty  during  this  closing  century  that 
it  has  turned  the  world  upside  down,  and  to  all  oppressors  from 
any  cause  the  spirit  of  liberty  cries: 

"By  all  ye  will  or  whisper. 
By  all  ye  leave  or  do, 
The  silent  sullen  people 

Shall  weigh  your  God  and  you." 


APPENDIX. 


Some  Statistics  of  the  War. 

Total  enlistment  in  the  United  States  army 2.778,804 

Total  enlistment  in  the  Confederate  States  army 600,000 

FiRsr. 

NtMBEK  OF  FOKEIGNEKS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  AkMY. 

German 176.800 

Irish 144,200 

Brit  ish  Americans 53. 500 

Eiiiilish 45.500 

Other  foreigners 74.000 

Total  foreigners 494.900 

Whites  from  the  South 276,439 

Negroes  from  the  South 178,975 

Total 455.414 

Grand  total 950,314 

Here  you  will  discover  a  force  350,414:  strono;er  than  the  whole 
Confederate  army,  without  enlisting  a  native-born  citizen  of  the 
North;  also  that  the  South  furnished  the  North  JfOo.Ji^lJ^  men. 

SECO^'D. 

New  York  troops  enlisted 448.850 

Pennsylvania  ti-oops  enlisted 337. 936 

Total 786.786 

Here  is  an  army  larger  than  the  Confederate  States  army. 

THIRD. 

Illinois  furnished  (men) 259,092 

Ohio  furnished  (men) 313,180 

Indiana  furnished  (men) 196,336 

Total 768,608 

Here  we  have  a  second  army  larger  than  the  Confederate 
army. 

FOURTII. 

The  New  England  States  furnished 363,162 

The  slave  States  furnished  (whites  and  negroes) 455,414 

Total 818,576 

23 


354  Two  Wars. 

Here  is  a  third  anny  laiirer  than  the  Confederate  army,  and 
the  fourtli  army  came  from  the  excess  of  numbers  in  the  three 
precedina"  ones. 

But  the  most  remarkable  fact  is,  that  there  were  in  the  Unit- 
ed States  army  950,314  men  tliat  should  be  called  foreigners^  as 
none  l)elon2:ed  to  the  North  by  birth. 

In  connection  with  the  number  of  foreiofners  in  the  United 
States  army.  I  will  remai-k  that  (ien.  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  of 
Massachusetts,  in  hlsar<rument  before  thcTewksbury  Almshouse 
investiofating  committee,  fJuly  15,  iss;^,  said:  ''liefore  you  goto 
throwing  ridicule  on  the  foreign-ljorn,  let  me  tell  you  that  you 
had  l)etter  look  into  the  question  of  who  fought  your  battles. 
In  the  tirst  place,  look  at  the  per  cent  of  what  birth  the  inmates 
in  our  soldiers'  homes  were;  fifty-eight  and  one-half  per  cent  of 
the  soldiers  in  these  homes  are  of  foreujn  hlrtJi.''^ 

Again  he  said:  "Some  of  us  stayed  at  home  and  pressed  soft 
cushions  of  .sklnnid  jxnipers.  while  these  foreigners  so  much 
sneered  at  were  lighting  our  battles."" 

In  regard  to  the  tanning  of  the  skins  of  the  dead  inmates  of 
the  almshouse,  Butler  quotes  from  Carlyle  (page  354),  and  goes 
on  to  say  that  at  Meudon  the  skins  of  the  guillotined  were 
turned  into  good  wash  leather  and  made  into  breeches  for  pau- 
pers. So  the  paupers  in  France  were  dressed  in  the  skins  of  my 
lord  and  lady,  "while  in  Massachusetts  it  was  our  aristocrats 
that  wore  slippers  made  from  the  breasts  of  women  paupers." 
Matters  here  are  reversed — it  is  my  lord  and  lady  who  wear  such 
slippers. 

It  may  be  of  some  interest  to  quote  further  from  Butler.  In 
contrasting  the  expenses  of  the  soldiers'  home  (one  of  them)  he 
said  it  took  278  turkeys  for  their  Thanksgiving  dinner,  and  their 
last  "potpie"  required  34  sheep,  15^  barrels  of  potatoes,  and  2 
barrels  of  flour.  During  the  year  they  ate  758  head  of  cattle, 
1,659  head  of  sheep,  3,714  barrels  of  flour,  15,744  dozen  egsfs, 
154,93:^  pounds  of  butter,  69,289  pounds  of  cofl'ee,  57,941  pounds 
of  fish,  7,950  pounds  of  tea,  10,570  cans  of  tomatoes,  16,431 
pounds  of  rice,  110,440  j)ounds  of  sugar,  21,325  pounds  of  prunes, 
and  other  articles  too  numerous  to  mention,  amounting  to  the 
sum  of  $204,728,"  hereby  establishing  that  the  inmates  of  the 
soldiers'  home  were  fed  cheaper  and  bcttci-  than  the  ])aupers  of 
the  Tewkesbury  almshouse. 


Appendix.  355 

I  refrain  from  naminir  the  horrors  of  this  institution  in  Mas- 
sachusetts; l)ut  the  men  who  are  fond  of  the  liorritjie  depravity 
of  mankind,  for  money,  can  tind  their  taste  gratified  in  Butler's 
pamphlet,  illustrated  by  photo^rraphs  of  tanned  skins,  etc. 

Civilization,  even  amonof  the  cultured,  is  sometimes  a  diaph- 
anous garment  to  hide  the  infernal.  "Nature  still  makes  him; 
and  has  an  infernal  in  her  as  well  as  a  celestial." 

Well  might  it  he  said  l)y  an  English  writer  that  "the  men  in 
the  North  could,  for  a  moderate  sum,  engage  substitutes  to  vi- 
cariously die  for  them,  while  they  sipped  their  wines  at  the 
clubs  in  safety."  

Percentage  Killed  and  Wounded  in  Late  "Wars. 

Allies  in  the  Crimea 3.3  per  cent 

Austrians  in  1866 2.6  per  cent 

Germans  in  the  Franco-German  war 3. 1  per  cent 

Federals  in  the  Confederate  war 4.7  per  cent 

Confederates  in  the  Confederate  war 9.0  per  cent 


Slave  Owners  in  the  Confederate  Army. 

This  question,  as  far  as  I  am  informed,  has  not  been  analyzed 
to  separate  it  from  the  concrete  mass  of  men  that  composed  the 
Confederate  army.  This  is  desira])le  to  establish  what  influence 
they  had  in  deciding  the  Southern  States  to  secede  from  the 
Union,  and  the  solution  of  it  should  give  the  number  of  slave 
owners  in  the  army. 

The  white  population  of  these  States  was,  in  1860,  about 
8,300,000.  There  were  346,000  whites  who  owned  slaves.  These 
figures  represent  and  include  men  of  all  ages,  widows,  and  minors; 
also  young  married  women  who  owned  the  servant  usually  given 
them. 

Now  divide  8,300,000  by  34(i,000,  and  we  have  %\%%%%'^='2^, 
which  shows  that  only  one  person  in  twenty-four  was  a  slave- 
holder, and  we  know  not  what  number  in  this  twenty-four  were 
women,  orphans,  and  old  men.  If  allowance  be  made  for  the 
old  men,  women,  and  minors,  there  would  not  be  over  four  able- 
bodied  men  to  the  one  hundred;  hence  in  a  company  of  one  hun- 
dred soldiers  four  wovild  be  slave  owners.  In  a  regiment  of  one 
thousand  there  would  be  forty,  in  ten  thousand  there  would  be 
four  hundred,  and  in  the  whole  Confederate  army  of  six  hun- 
dred thousand  there  would  l)e  onlv  twentv-four  thousand  who 


356  Tivo  Wars. 

represented  slavery.  The  remainder  (600,000 — 24,000)  would 
be  570,000  who  were  not  slave  oAvnersI  This  number,  however, 
miofht  be  reduced  l)y  young  men  heirs  apparent  of  slaves. 

Henceforth,  then,  let  it  be  known  that  the  Confederate  army 
was  not  an  army  of  slave  owners.  To  the  people  of  the  South 
it  was  well  known  that  the  slaves  were  fast  becoming  the  prop- 
erty of  the  owners  of  large  estates,  and  on  many  sugar  and  cot- 
ton plantations  there  were  from  one  to  two  hundred  negroes  em- 
ployed. The  tendency  was  to  consolidate  labor,  as  it  was  more 
profita])le.  Therefore  it  was  that  the  Confederate  army  was 
mainly  composed  of  men  as  free  from  interests  in  slavery  as  were 
the  men  living  in  sight  of  Bunker  Hill.  These  men  were  con- 
tending for  an  object  far  more  dear  to  them  than  any  arising 
from  slavery.  They  had  seen  the  accmnulated  funds  of  the  Unit- 
ed States  treasury  expended  in  making  harbors  for  towns  on  the 
great  Northern  lakes  yearly,  and  in  digofing  deep-water  channels 
for  Eastern  cities,  and  appropriations  for  little  creeks  called 
rivers;  while  the  harbors  of  the  Southern  cities  were  neglected. 
Then,  again,  the  tariff  almost  invariably  discriminated  against 
the  South,  even  to  the  extent  of  niilliticati(m,  almost  thirty  years 
anterior  to  the  war;  then  the  fugitive  slave  act  was  nullitied  by 
Northern  State  laws;  "underground  railroad"  was  a  term  used 
to  express  how  negro  slaves  were  conveyed  under  cover  of  the 
night  to  the  North  when  enticed  from  their  owners.  They  open- 
ly published  that  the  Constitution  was  a  "compact  made  with 
the  devil;"  and  the  hatred  of  the  North  and  the  West  was  so 
widespread  that  by  a  sectional  party  vote  they  elected  a  Presi- 
dent antagonistic  to  the  South.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the  acts 
that  caused  secession;  and  yet  he  who  ])elieves  that  secession 
was  entertained  by  more  than  a  mere  majority  of  the  people 
South  is  mistaken.  Genuine  love  and  an  al)i(ling  tidelity  to  the 
Constitution  were  ever  found  in  the  South.  Her  cause  for  com- 
))laiiit  also  was  that  the  peoi)Ie  of  the  North  and  West,  actuated 
b}^  hatred  of  the  people  South,  proclaimed  that  the  higher  law 
of  conHcieiice  was  superior  to  the  Constitution! 

Events  came  on  apace.  The  Southern  ])e()])le  were  homogene- 
ous, "to  the  maimer  l)orn."  Save  only  in  the  conunercial  cities 
were  there  any  foreigners  and  l)ut  few  Northerners.  North  Car- 
olina did  not  have  quite  one  per  cent  foreign;  the  West  had  about 
thirty-five  per  cent.      (Census  Report.) 


Appendix.  357 

When  coercion  of  the  South  was  prochiimed,  it  Avas  the  honio- 
geneousness  of  iier  i)eoi)le  that  soliditied  both  parties  at  once  to 
a  common  defense  of  tiieir  homes,  and  these  Hve  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-six thousand  soldiers,  without  interest  in  shivery,  f\)r  four 
years  fought  for  the  right  of  their  people  to  govern  themselves 
in  their  own  way.  Their  deeds  are  now  a  matter  of  history  that 
will,  by  them,  be  recorded,  contrary  to  the  past  rule,  that  the 
conquerors  always  Avrite  histoi'V. 

Appomattox  terminated  the  war  only — it  was  not  a  court  to 
adjudicate  the  r!<jlif  of  secession — but  its  secjuence  established 
the  fact  that  secession  Avas  not  treason  nor  rebellion,  and  that  it 
yet  exists,  restrained  only  ])y  the  question  of  expediency. 
Wherefore  the  Union  will  be  maintained  mainly  by  avoiding 
sectional  and  class  legislation,  and  remembering  always  that  in 
the  halls  of  legislation  the  minority  have  some  rights,  and  in  the 
minority  the  truf/i  will  generally  be  found. 

The  charge,  then,  that  the  slaveholders,  so  few  in  number, 
forced  secession,  or  that  the  five  hundred  and  seventy-six  thou- 
sand nonslaveholders  who  really  constituted  the  Confederate 
army  were  battling  to  maintain  slavery,  is  a  popular  error. 

The  cry  at  the  North  that  the  South  Avas  fighting  to  maintain 
slavery  was  proclaimed  (as  I  have  elsewhere  said)  to  prejudice 
the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  and  the  English  Cabinet  against 
forming  an  alliance  Avith  the  Confederate  States;  but  the  poAver 
of  public  opinion  and  the  press  Avere  such  that  they  Avere  ol)liged 
to  remain  neutral:  for  this  constrained  neutrality  England  was 
Teimvded  by  l)eing  forced,  when  the  Avar  ended,  to  pay  the 
United  States  the  sum  of  lifteen  million  dollars— the  GencA^a 
avxird—iov  the  ships  destroyed  by  Admiral  Raphael  Semnies, 
Confederate  States  Navy;  and  France  was  rew^arded  1)y  obliging 
Napoleon  to  withdraAV  his  troops  from  Mexico,  and  leave  poor 
Maximilian  to  his  fate — a  warning  for  weak  men  thirsting  for 
empire.  

Prison  Deaths  and  Prisoners. 

The  number  of  Confederate  prisoners  in  Northern  prisons 
W'as  220,000,  and  the  number  of  Federal  prisoners  in  prisons 
South  was  270,000. 

Death  rate  hi  Northern  prisons 13  per  cent 

Death  rate  in  Southern  prisons 9  per  cent 


358 


'J' wo    W^Ah'S. 


See  the  report  oi  Secretary  Stunton.  iiinde  fluly  9,  18H(>;  also 
the  report  of  Surgeon  General  Barnes,  United  States  Army. 
Some  of  the  Brigade  Losses  in  Particular  Engagements. 


Gettysburg 

(Gettysburg 

Antietam 

Franklin 

Chiekauiaugu.. 


Garnetfs  Brigade  (Va.) 
Terry's  •'        (Fla.) 

Wotl'onrs  ••  (Tex.) 
Cockreirs  ••  (Mo.) 
Benning"s      '•         (Ga.) 


Pickett's  Division 
Anderson's    " 
Hood's 
French's        " 
Hood's 


65.9  per  cent 
65       ••       •• 
64.1    ••       •' 
60.3    "       " 
56.6    "       " 


There  are   thirteen  more  brigades  with   losses,  varying   in 
numbers,  before  the  percentage  is  reduced  to  forty  per  cent. 
Percentage  ok  Loss  in  Some  Regiments  in  Single  Battles. 


Gettysburg 

Gettysburg 

Gettysburg 

Antietam 

Twenty-First  North  Carolina 

First  Missouri 

Twenty-Sixth  North  Carolina 

Twentieth  Texas 

Twelfth  Massachusetts 

Twenty- First  Georgia 

One  Hundred  and  ?'irst  New  York 

90     per  cent 

83       >'       '• 
88.5    •'       •■ 
82.3    •• 

Antietani 

67 

Antietam 

Antietam 

76       '•       " 

71 

And  so  on.  There  are  o\qy  jifty  regiments  in  the  Confederate 
army  before  forty  per  cent  is  reached.  How  many  there  are  in 
the  Federal  army  I  do  not  know.  (From  "The  Confederate  Sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  War.'*  and  other  sources.) 


The  Authority  to  Tax 

is  the  greatest  power  u  people  can  give  a  government,  yet  it  is 
a  necessary  measure,  but  often  dangerous;  it  can  be  used  to  im- 
poverish a  people,  or  enrich  a  comparatively  fcAv  individuals, 
or  to  rob  one  section  of  a  vast  coimtry  to  build  up  another.  It 
has  caused  more  distress  than  droughts  or  floods;  it  has  caused 
more  insurrections,  revolutions,  and  wars  than  all  other  acts  of 
man  intrusted  with  authorit.y.  There  are  many  modes  of  taxa- 
tion, l)ut  the  most  insidious  one  is  the  quiet  robbery  by  a  tariff. 

This  might  l)e  demonstrated  by  the  United  States  pension 
laws.  The  pensioners  (and  1  am  a  Mexican  war  pensioner)  re- 
ceive as  a  free  gift  from  the  treasury  the  sum  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  million  dollars  annually.  It  goes  to  eni'ich  the 
people  of  the  States  where  they  reside. 

If  there  be  no  pensioners  living  in  any  one  State,  that  State 
contributes  to  support  the  pensioners,  but  receives  nothing  in 
return:  so,  if  all  the  ])ensioners  were  to  become  citizens  of  any 


Ai'i'KNDix.  359 

one  State,  that  State  would  receive  in  pension  money  one  liun- 
dred  and  titty  million  dollars  yearly,  or  in  tifteen  years  the  enor- 
mous sum  of  two  billion  two  hundred  and  tifty  million  dollars 
derived  by  taxation  of  the  people  in  the  other  States,  less  the 
sum  that  one  State  paid  and  returned  to  it. 

Now,  if  all  the  pensioners,  from  any  cause,  should  mi<rrate  to 
Ohio,  or  North  Carolina,  would  the  other  forty-four  States  be 
taxed  for  (say)  the  benetit  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  in  the  sum  of  two  billion  two  hundred  and  tifty  million 
dollars  during^  the  next  fifteen  years  ^     No,  never. 

The  presumption  is  that  the  Southern  States  pay,  under  the 
revenue  laws,  one-third  of  the  revenue  (;ollected.  If  so,  then 
the  South  pays  the  pensioners  about  tifty  million  dollars  anuua- 
ally,  and  receives  in  return  only  the  small  sum  paid  the  few  pen- 
sioners residing  within  the  Southern  States;  and  thus  one  section 
of  the  country  is  taxed,  under  the  revenue  tariti'  laws,  to  enrich 

the  other,  Q.  E.  D.  

Cost  of  the  War. 

The  total  cost  of  the  war  between  tlie  States  was,  to  June 

30.1879 $10,861,929,909 

Value  of  the  slaves  confiscated  and  emancipated 3,000.000.000 

Destruction  of  property  in  tlie  South  (estimated) 000,000.000 


Naval  Power  of  the  United  States. 

The  following  enumeration  of  the  vessels  in  the  United  States 
service  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  power  of  the  North: 

Seven  himdred  vessels  were  employed  in  blockading  our  coast 
and  guarding  our  rivers. 

During  the  year  1862-63  there  were  533  steamers,  barges,  and 
coal  boats  belonging  to  the  United  States  on  the  Mississippi 
river  and  its  tributaries;  and  at  the  same  time  the  United  States 
Quartermaster's  Department  chartered  1,750  steamers  and  ves- 
sels to  aid  Gen.  Grant  in  his  operations  against  Vicksburg.  In 
short,  there  w^ere  2,283  vessels,  exclusive  of  iron-clad  mortar 
boats,  operating  to  capture  Vicksburg.  The  actual  siege  com- 
menced May  18,  and  ended  July  4,  1863,  embracing  a  period  of 

forty-seven  days.  

Names,  Rank,  and  Positions  of  Officers  on  My  Staff. 

Abercrombie,  Wiley,  I.(ieutenant,  Aid-de-Camp. 

Anderson,  Archer,  ^Nlajor,  Aid-de-Camp. 


360  Two  Waes. 

Art-ber.  C,  Lieutenant,  Ord.  Otficer. 

Jiakor.  J.  A.,  Captain,  Aid-de-Camp. 

Baldwin.  John  ]M.,  Captain,  Aetinof  C)rd.  Officer. 

Cain,  AV.  H..  Captain,  Commissarv. 

Danuer,  Albeit,  Captain,  Quartermaster. 

Daves,  (irahani.  Major,  A.  A.  General. 

Drane,  X.  M..  Captain,  Quartermaster. 

Freeman,  E.  T..  Lieutenant,  A.  A.  L  General. 

Haile,  Calhoun.  Lieutenant,  Aid-de-Camp. 

Harrison,  ^^'illiam  B.,  Major,  Chief  Surgeon. 

^Nlorey,  John  B..  ]Major,  Chief  Quartermaster. 

Myers,  C.  D.,  Lieutenant,  Aid-dc-Camp. 

Overton,  ]M.,  Cai)tain,  Ord.  Officer. 

Reynolds.  F.  A.,  Captain,  A.  A.  General. 

Rol)ertson,  N.  H.,  Lieutenant,  Artillery. 

lioirers.  H.  J.,  Captain,  Engineer. 

Sanders,  D.  W.,  Major,  Adj.  General. 

Shinoflenr,  James  A.,  Lieutenant,  Maj.  and  A.  A.  (t. 

Shumaker,  S.  M.,  Major,  Chief  Artillery. 

Storrs,  (leorge  S.,  Lieutenant,  Maj.  and  Chief  Art. 

Venet,  John  B=,  Captain,  Engineer. 

Yerger,  James  li..  Lieutenant,  Aid-de-Camp. 

Thomas.  Grigsby  E.,  Sergeant,  Ordnance. 


Government  in  Louisiana,  1875  76. 
The  forces  that  were  developed  during  the  last  two  years  of 
the  war  found  a  wide  tield  for  operation  as  the  Union  troops 
marched  through  the  South,  and  induced  the  troops  to  plunder, 
because  there  was  money  in  it,  and  when  the  war  ended  this 
force  entered  the  wide  area  of  reconstruction,  and  ])roduced 
those  cursed  scenes  witnessed  all  over  the  South,  because 
there  was  money  in  it,  and  yet  when  the  States  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union  it  was  natural  to  supi)()se  that  its  power 
for  evil  was  spent.  Not  at  all;  it  rallied,  and  entered  the  held 
of  politics;  debased  by  all  the  license  of  war,  which  exempted 
them  from  ])nnishment  for  all  crimes,  they  sold  themselves  for 
a  price,  and  the  dual  governments  commenced:  the  one  estab- 
lished by  the  property  owners  and  respectable  people,  the  other 
])y  the  car])etl)aggers,  scalawags,  and  negroes.  Here  were  of- 
fices by  election  and  by  appointment  affording  almost  unlimited 


Appendix.  361 

op])()ilunity  to  plunder.     Tlicy   hud  no  conscience  Aviien   tliey 
could  put  money  in  their  pockets. 

To  illustrate,  I  will,  as  briefly  as  I  can,  take  the  State  of  Louisi- 
ana. In  1875  this  State  had  tico  rival  courts,  tiro  opposin^r  Legis- 
latures. One  was  the  radical  carpetbaggers,  and  the  other  con- 
servative. There  were  fJivt'*'  governors;  also  Tnited  States 
Senators,  black  and  white,  and  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan  was  mili- 
tary director;  and  over  and  above  all  the  United  States  inter- 
meddling in  her  atfairs.  The  rival  courts  were  occupied  in 
reversing  the  decisions  of  each  other,  the  Legislatures  in  pass- 
ing bills  that  were  not  valid  for  the  want  of  a  quorum,  or  ob- 
taining the  signature  of  the  right  governor,  whether  of  Kellogg, 
Warmouth,  or  McEnery  (the  three  governors). 

As  this  threefold  government  presaged  the  probability  of  the 
radical  party  not  receiving  the  electoral  vote  of  the  State  in  the 
coming  election  for  President,  something  had  to  be  dt)ne  to  ac 
complish  it.  Accordingly  the  President  directed  the  Secretary 
of  War  to  issue  an  order  directly  and  secretly  to  Gen.  P.  H. 
Sheridan,  who  was  in  Chicago,  to  proceed  to  New  Orleans,  and 
it  was  suggested  that  he  should  make  the  journey  appear  as  one 
undertaken  for  recreation.  So  he  and  some  of  his  staflP,  and  a 
party  of  ladies  on  pleasure  bent,  sailed  down  the  turbulent  ]Mis- 
sippi  river  to  New  Orleans,  and  established  headquarters  in  the 
St.  Charles  Hotel. 

Sheridan's  secret  orders,  dated  December  2-t,  18T4,  were  sent 
to  him  direct  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  Gen.  Sherman,  commanding  the  army,  or  of  Gen.  Mc- 
Dowell, commanding  the  Department  of  the  South,  which  em- 
braced Louisiana,  with  his  headquarters  in  Louisville,  Ky. ;  but 
he  was  advised  that  he  might  stop  and  make  known  to  Gen.  Mc- 
Dowell the  object  of  his  mission  if  he  deemed  it  proper  to  do 
so,  but  he  passed  by  without  seeing  McDowell.  On  arriving  in 
New  Orleans  he  made  the  State  of  Louisiana  a  part  of  his  de- 
partment, and  then  issued  his  decree  declaring  the  people  of  the 
state  "-banditti.''  This  alarmed  the  President.  It  was  too  im- 
perialistic. Sheridan  then  suggested  that  Congress  be  called  on 
to  pass  an  act  in  a  few  words  making  the  people  banditti.  The 
President  declined.  Then  the  chief  of  the  banditti  advised  the 
President  to  issue  an  order  through  the  War  Department  declar- 
ing the  people  l^anditti,  and  to  leave  all  to  him,  and  he  would 


362  Tiro  W.-ihs. 

iiuell  tlu'iu  without  ^ivin*r  lihu  (the  Prcsidonl)  any  furllier  Irou- 
hle.  In  all  tiiis  there  is  a  thirst  for  blood  and  punishment  by 
military  authority.  But  (xrant,  sittintr  on  the  raofffed  edge  of 
imi)erialism.  declined  to  support  liis  man-of-all-work  on  the  ban- 
ditti (juestion.  But  still  undamited,  Sheridan  perchance  recalled 
to  mind  how  Cromwell  entered  the  ''Praise-God  Barebone" 
house  of  Parliament,  and.  charofinij  the  members  to  be  jruilty  of 
dishonoral)le  acts,  drove  them  out  of  the  house  by  an  armed  force, 
locked  the  door,  and  put  the  key  in  his  pocket;  or  how  Napoleon 
entered  the  liall  of  the  council  of  live  hundred  in  Paris,  and  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet  dissolved  the  convention — resolved  to 
imitate  those  irreat  men  by  taking  a  company  of  the  United  States 
army,  and  thrust  the  members  of  the  conservative  Legislature 
into  the  street.  This  he  did  by  sending  Gen.  De  Trobirand  to 
close  the  legislative  hall  of  a  sovereign  State  in  the  Union,  first 
ejecting  the  members. 

However  much  the  North  was  willing  to  punish  the  South, 
they  saw'  in  this  a  usurpation  of  United  States  authority  which, 
if  unrebuked.  might  be  applied  to  a  "truly  loyal''  State  in  the 
North;  and  now  the  Northern  press  howled,  not  because  it  had 
been  done  in  Louisiana,  l)ut  for  fear  their  Legislatures  might  be 
invaded  likewise,  and  they  cried:  "Have  we  also  a  Ciesar?" 
And  all  this  was  done  to  secure  the  vote  of  Louisiana  to  the  radi- 
cal party  in  the  coming  presidential  election. 

Pending  these  events  Sherman  and  ]\IcDowell  were  inflamed 
with  anger  that  such  orders  should  be  issued  secretly,  and  not 
sent  through  the  ]iroper  channel  of  communication.  Such  were 
some  of  the  incidents  of  the  attempt  of  Sheridan  to  punish  the 
people  of  Louisiana  who  were  "to  the  manner  born,"  who  owned 
the  land,  and  paid  nine-tenths  of  all  the  taxes,  and  who  intel- 
lectually were  his  ecpial,  and  socially  and  in  the  amenities  of  life 
his  superior  in  many  respects. 

Time  passed  on.  Election  day  came,  and,  had  these  States  been 
recorded  as  the  people  had  voted,  the  election  w^ould  have  l)een: 
For  Tilden,  203;  for  Hayes,  166.  But  the  election  machinery 
in  most  of  the  Southern  States  was  in  Pepublican  hands,  and  thus 
f)y  Chan<ller's  orders  the  Stales  of  Floi'ida,  Louisiana,  and  South 
Carolina  could  be  counted  out;  and  if  this  was  done,  R.  B.  Hayes, 
would  have  1S5  and  S.  J.  Tilden  Is4.  Now^  "who  should  count 
the  votes"  became  the  battle  ground.     For  two  months  scheme 


JLLIIS  L.    BKOWN. 


Appendix.  365 

after  scheme  was  proposed  and  rejected.  More  than  once  it 
was  pro]i()scd  to  throw  dice,  and  raffle  off  the  presidency  like 
"a  good,  fat  turkey  for  Christmas,"  but  this  leaked  out.  One 
proposition  after  another  again  fell  through,  and  at  last  Hayes 
won  by  trickery.  Only  the  great  desire  for  peace,  and  the  mar- 
shaling of  troops  and  concentrating  naval  vessels  under  the 
orders  of  President  Grant  prevented  a  clash  of  arms.  '£3 

Among  the  first  acts  of  President  Hayes  was  an  order  remov- 
ing the  United  States  troops  from  New  Orleans  and  Columbia, 
S.  C,  as  the  purpose  for  wdiich  they  had  been  kept  there  had 
been  accomplished.  Those  who  are  fond  of  reading  low  vil- 
lainy can  find  it  written  in  the  chronicles  of  Ijouisiana. 


Violation  of  Paroles. 

In  connection  with  the  violation  of  paroles  I  will  incidentally 
mention  that  Gov.  Joseph  E,  Brown,  of  Georgia — after  the  sur- 
render of  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  and  when  Gen.  J.  H.  Wilson  was  in 
]Macon  on  his  raid — went  to  Macon,  and  surrendered  to  Gen. 
Wilson  himself  and  the  militia  in  his  command,  and  obtained 
his  parole;  thence  he  returned  to  Milledgeville.  That  same 
evening  Gen.  Wilson  sent  an  officer  and  some  troops  to  the  res- 
idence of  his  excellency,  took  from  him  by  force  the  parole  that 
he  had  just  given  him,  arrested  him,  took  him  to  Macon;  then 
sent  him  to  Washington  City,  where  he  was  imprisoned  wdth 
most  of  the  Southern  Governors  of  the  Confederate  States.  This 
gave  rise  to  a  peculiar  decision  on  the  validity  of  his  and  other 
paroles.  See  the  following  letter  from  the  War  Records,  Serial 
No.  104,  Page  836: 

Washington,  May  19,  1865. 

Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War. 

The  inclosed  makes  it  appear  that  Brown,  of  Geoi-gia,  surrendered  the 
militia  of  that  State  and  himself  as  commander  in  chief  thereof  to  Gen. 
Wilson,  and  was  paroled.  If  the  call  for  the  meeting  of  the  Geoi-gia  Legis- 
lature was  subsequent  to  the  parole,  I  suppose  there  can  be  no  doul)t  but 
that  he  stands  liable  to  arrest  for  the  violation  of  his  parole;  otherwise,  is 
it  not  obligatory  upon  the  government  to  observe  their  part  of  the  contract? 
I  woukl  not  advise  authorizing  him  to  go  back  to  Georgia  now  under  any 
circumstances;  but  I  do  not  think  a  paroled  officer  is  subject  to  arrest,  so 
long  as  he  observes  his  parole,  without  giving  him  notice  first  that  he  is. 
absolved  fi'om  further  oljservance  of  it. 

U.  S.  Gkant.  Ijicutcnant  Ocneral. 


^366  Tivo  Wars. 

The  inclosure  referred  to  is  probably  Wilson  to  Stanton,  May 
19,  4:20  P.M.     IVe  680. 

The  wordiiisr  of  the  parole  ofivon  the  army  of  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee 
reads: 

The  within  named. ,  will  not  be  disturbed  by  the  United  States  au- 
thorities so  long  as  he  observes  his  parole  and  the  laws  in  force  where  he 
maj'^  reside.     (From  the  War  Records,  Vol.  46,  Part  3,  page  853.) 

This  opinion  of  Gen.  Grant  that  an  officer,  who  may  be  in 
command  of  an  army  or  of  a  ])ody  of  armed  men,  after  the  sur- 
render of  his  men  and  their  arms,  can,  after  ^'"notice  that  he  is 
ahsoJved  from  further  observance  of  it,"  be  arrested  is  a  tlaofrant 
l)reach  of  faith. 

Promise  of  protection  is  given  to  a  man  with  arms  in  his 
hand,  that  if  he  tcill  surrender  them  he  shall  have  protection  as 
long  as  he  observes  his  parole.  Is  it  just,  right,  or  honorable 
after  he  has  given  up  his  arms  to  notify  him  that  he  is  released 
from  the  ohservance  of  the  parole,  unless  you  tirst  glace  him  in 
the  same  condition  he  was  before  he  surrendered  his  arms  or  his 
commands  It  is  a  deception  and  an  outrage.  In  fact,  I  am  un- 
able to  comprehend  how  a  soldier  who  surrenders  himself,  his 
men,  and  arms  on  parole  can  l)e  released  from  and  a))solved  from 
observance  from  it  from  any  act  or  acts  connnitted  prior  to  its 
date  in  order  to  arrest  him.  Gov.  Brown  was  denied  the  rights 
given  him  by  his  parole,  and  holding  him  a  prisoner  and  not 
permitting  him  to  go  to  his  home  in  Georgia  seems  to  be  predi- 
cated upon  the  fear  that  he  might  do  something  in  violation  of 
a  parole. 

The  papers  showed  that  the  Governor  was  paroled  by  Gen. 
Wilson;  then  arrested  the  same  day  at  his  liome  in  Milledge- 
ville,  and  his  parole  taken  from  him  l)y  force.  I  presume  that 
his  parole  was  taken  from  him  because  some  days  previous  to 
his  surrender  he  had  made  a  call  for  the  Legislature  to  assem- 
ble. 

Joseph  M.  Brown,  to  whom  1  urn  indebted  for  much  informa- 
tion that  he  obtained  from  Union  soldiers  tlirough  years  of  cor- 
respondence relative  to  the  Georgia  cainpuigii,  is  a  son  of  Gov. 
Joseph  E.  Brown,  and  a  gentleman  of  high  literary  attaimnents. 
His  elder  brother,  Julius  L.  F)r()\\ii.  now  a  distinguished  lawyer 
in  Atlanta,  refused  to  leave  the  country  to  be  educated  in  Europe. 
By  a  compromise  he  was  sent  to  a  military  school  in  Athens,  Ga. 


Ai'PKXDix.  367 

Tlie  boys  there  took  up  anus,  and  foriiied  a  company  to  defend 
Athens.  There  Brown's  first  <hity  was  to  guard  some  Yankee 
prisoners.  In  lsf)4  he  joined  Conn)any  A  in  a  battalion  of  cadets, 
and  rendered  good  service  in  defense  of  Atlanta.  Thence  his 
command  went  to  Milledgeville,  where,  joining  with  other  State 
f(jrces  and  Wheeler's  cavalry,  they  fought  Sherman's  advance  at 
every  river  he  crossed,  and  otherwise  retarded  his  march  to  Sa- 
vannah. His  battalion  formed  a  part  of  the  rear  guard  of  Har- 
<lee's  army  on  the  retreat  from  Savannah.  The  last  ordei'  is- 
sued by  Confederate  authority  east  of  the  Mississippi  was  to  this 
battalion.     (War  Records,  Serial  111,  page  420.) 


Cassville. 
[From  "Reminiscences  of  tlie  War."  in  the  New  Orleans  Picayiine.^ 

The  recent  appearance  of  Hughes's  "Life  of  Gen.  Joseph  E. 
Johnston,"  and  the  announcement  of  the  placing  in  the  hands 
of  the  printers  of  a  "Life  of  Gen.  Leonidas  Polk,'""  by  his  son. 
Dr.  William  Polk,  were  the  subject  of  a  conversation  recently 
among  a  few  veterans  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  and  some  facts 
were  mentioned  that  are  deemed  of  sufficient  interest  to  be  placed 
on  record  through  the  columns  of  your  valued  paper. 

To  those  who  participated  in  the  memorable  campaign  from 
Dalton  to  Atlanta  under  Joe  Johnston,  the  failure  to  give  bat- 
tle at  Cassville  is  a  most  fertile  source  of  discussion  and  regret, 
and  this  was  the  point  of  conversation  on  which  the  group  of 
talkers  lingered  the  longest. 

The  enthusiasm  that  swept  through  the  army  when  the  an- 
nouncement was  made  that  it  had  reached  the  chosen  battlefield 
possessed  anew  the  hearts  of  these  veterans:  the  cheers  that 
went  up  from  each  command  as  "Old  Joe's"  ringing  battle  or- 
der was  read  to  the  troops  reverberated  again  in  their  ears;  the 
eml)ers  of  their  deep  emotions  of  elation  and  disgust  that  so 
rapidly  succeeded  each  other  on  that  eventful  day  burned  afresh 
within  them  for  a  while.  And  naturally  the  oft-debated  ques- 
tion of  the  amount  of  blame  attaching  to  Gen.  Johnston's  sub- 
ordinates for  this  failure  to  light  came  up  as  of  old,  and  the 
measure  of  it,  if  any,  appertaining  to  Gen.  Polk  was  stated  as 
follows  ])y  one  of  the  group,  ^laj.  Douglas  West,  who,  as  adju- 
tant general,  attended  Gen.  Polk  on  the  night  of  the  conference 


368  Tivo  Wars. 

■when  rlolinston  t'l'lt  coinix'llod  to  t'()re<j:()  the  l)attle  and  retreat 
across  the  Eto^vah  river.  He  said  that  after  Polk's  Corps  had 
taken  the  position  assi<>-ned  to  it  on  tlie  left  of  Hood's  Cor])s  and 
in  the  rear  of  (  ass\  ille,  (ten.  S.  (1.  Frencli,  one  of  the  division 
ofonerals  of  the  corps,  sent  a  messacre  to  (len.  Polk  that  his  posi- 
tion was  enliladed.  and  that  he  could  not  hold  it. 

Gen.  Polk  thereiii)on  sent  his  inspectoi'  irenei'al,  Col.  iSevier, 
to  ascertain  aWout  it.  This  ollicer  reported  t)ack  that  in  his 
opinion  Cen.  French  was  warranted  in  his  apprehension. 

Gen.  l*olk  recpiested  Col.  Sevier  to  proceed  to  Gen.  Johnston's 
headquarters,  and  })lace  the  facts  before  him,  which  this  officer 
did. 

Gen.  Johnston  was  loath  to  believe  in  the  inipossiljility  of 
holding  that  part  of  the  line;  for,  though  exposed,  it  could  be 
niade  tenable  by  building  traverses,  and  retiring  the  troops  some 
little  to  the  rear.  He  instructed  Col.  Sevier  to  have  Gen.  French 
to  build  traverses.  This  general  considered  them  useless,  and 
persisted  in  his  inability  to  hold  his  position. 

Col.  Sevier  reporting  this  back  to  Gen.  Polk,  in  the  absence  of 
Capt.  Walter  J.  Morris,  engineer  officer  of  Gen.  Polk's  Corps 
(oft'  on  some  duty),  the  General  sent  ]VIaj.  Douglas  West  to  the 
position  of  Gen.  French's  Division  to  have  his  opinion  also,  and 
to  have  him  talk  over  the  situation  with  this  general.  When 
Maj.  West  reached  there,  there  was  no  tiring  from  the  enemy, 
and  he  could  not  form  an  o))inion  in  that  way.  However  he 
conversed  with  Gen.  French  on  the  subject,  and  returned,  re- 
porting Gen.  PVench  as  highly  wrought  up  about  the  exposure 
of  his  division.  Gen.  Polk  then  sent.  Maj.  West  to  Gen.  John- 
ston to  state  the  result  of  his  visit  to  Gen.  French's  position,  and 
Gen.  Johnston  reiterated  hisoi)inion  about  the  feasibility  of  hold- 
ing the  position  with  the  use  of  traverses. 

Upon  reporting  back  the  remarks  of  (Jen.  Johnston.  Maj. 
West  found  that  ('apt.  Moi-ris  had  reached  (Jen.  Polk's  head- 
(juarters,  and  the  captain  in  turn  was  sent  to  French's  })osition 
to  make  a  thorough  survey  and  rei)()rt  of  it.  He  made  a  very 
thorough  one,  and  re])orted  the  j)osition  as  very  exposed  for  the 
defensive,  but  as  admirable  for  the  oft'ensive.  (Jen.  Polk,  since 
the  first  report  from  (Jen.  French,  appeared  much  annoyed  at 
this  \inex])ected  weakness  in  his  line,  which,  from  the  pertinaci- 
ty of  Gen,  French,  was  growing  into  an  obstacle  to  the  impend- 


Appendix.  369 

iu^  battle,  for  which  Gen.  Polk  shared  the  enthusiasm  and  con- 
tidence  of  the  troops. 

That  eveniiio:  about  sunset  (Jen.  Hood  lode  up  to  Gen.  Polk's 
head([uarters  with  Maj.  Gen.  French,  and  at  his  suofofestion  Gen. 
Johnston  was  asked  to  meet  the  three  lieutenant  <renerals  at 
Polk's  headipiarters  for  the  purpose  of  consultino;  that  ni.ffht  on 
the  situation. 

At  the  appointed  hour  Gens.  Johnston,  Hood,  and  Polk  met  at 
the  hitter's  heacUiuarters.  Gen.  Hardee  was  not  present,  he  not 
havinof  been  found  in  time,  after  dilio^ent  search.  Gen.  Hood 
arrived  at  the  rendezvous  accompanied  by  Gen.  French,  whose 
division  rested  upon  his  left  in  the  line  of  battle.  Gen.  Polk 
had  not  asked  Gen.  French,  who  was  of  his  corps,  to  be  present 
at  headcpiarters  for  the  occasion,  and  Gen.  Hood's  action  in  brino^- 
ino;  him  was  alto<rether  o;ratuitous.  Upon  arrivin*?  with  French, 
Gen.  Hood  excused  his  action  1)V  stating  that  he  considered  the 
situation  so  vital  to  himself  and  French  that  he  had  taken  the 
liberty  to  ask  Gen.  French  to  come  with  him  to  the  conference. 
After  awaiting  Gen.  Hardee's  arrival  for  a  good  while.  Gens. 
Johnston,  Polk,  and  Hood  retired  to  the  rough  cabin  house 
Avhere  Polk  had  established  his  headquarters,  and  Gen.  French 
and  the  stalf  officers  of  the  different  generals  remained  outside, 
beyond  earshot. 

It  was  past  midnight  when  the  meeting  broke  up  and  the  gen- 
erals stepped  out  and  called  their  escort  and  attending  staff. 

Gen.  Polk  immediately  instructed  Maj.  West  to  issue  orders 
to  his  division  generals  to  move  as  soon  as  guides  would  be  fur- 
nished them.  Capt.  Morris  was  ordered  to  procure  these  im- 
mediately. Gen.  Polk  communicated  detailed  instructions,  but 
ai)peared  deeply  al)sorbed.  In  silence  everything  was  carried 
out,  and  the  corps  had  taken  up  the  march  and  moved  some  dis- 
tance before  Maj.  West  was  aware  that  the  army  was  in  retreat. 
He  had  been  l)y  the  General's  side  or  close  in  the  rear  of  him 
from  the  moment  of  the  termination  of  the  conference,  and  the 
General  had  not  spoken  about  it.  Thus  they  had  ridden  a  good 
while.  The  ^Nlajor,  respecting  the  General's  silent  mood,  had  not 
thought  proper  to  inquire  about  the  destination  of  the  colunm. 
An  officer  of  (ien.  Hardee's  staff',  Capt.  Thomas  H.  Hunt,  was 
the  tirst  to  inform  Maj.  West  that  the  army  was  retreating  be- 
cause Gen.  Polk  at  the  conference  had  insisted  that  he  could  not 
24 


37U  Tuo  n^Ah'S. 

hold  his  ])()slli(tn  in  the  line  of  haltle  selected  ])V  Johnston. 
Stuno;  1)}'  this  statement,  ^laj.  AVest  denied  it  emphatically,  and 
as  his  informant  insisted  on  its  correctness,  Maj.  West  rode  up 
to  Gen.  Polk,  and  ashed  him  where  the  column  was  marchinir 
to.  Gen.  Polk  said  they  were  retreating  to  beyond  the  Etowah 
river.  Maj.  West  then  told  him  of  the  report  that  had  reached 
him.  and  asked  him  if  he  was  the  cause  of  the  abandonment  of 
the  intended  battle  at  Cassville.  Gen.  Polk  asked  who  had  made 
the  statement,  and  when  told  that  it  w^as  a  staff  officer  of  Gen. 
Hardee,  who  also  added  that  the  impression  prevailed  alon<r  the 
column,  and  ]Maj.  West  askin<2:  that  he  be  authorized  to  deny  the 
report,  Gen.  Polk  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then  said  to  Maj, 
West:  "To-morrow  everythino-  will  be  made  as  clear  as  day." 

Gen.  Polk  never  again  spoke  of  this  matter  to  the  Major,  al- 
though with  him  day  and  night  during  that  long  and  terrible 
cam])aign,  in  Avhich  he  lost  his  life  at  Pine  Mountain  on  the  14lh 
of  July,  1SG4;  l)ut  the  impression  left  upon  his  stati'  officers  was 
that  the  failure  to  give  })attle  at  Cassville  was  not  due  to  any 
representations  made  by  Gen,  Polk,  but  to  the  objections  made 
by  Lieut,  Gen,  Hood,  the  left  of  whose  line  joined  French's  Di- 
vision, 

Gen,  Polk  had  so  little  confidence  in  the  representations  of 
the  weakness  of  the  line  at  the  point  referred  to  that  he  did  not 
go  there  in  person, 

I?ut  for  Gen.  Hood's  invitation,  INIaj.  Gen.  French  would  not 
have  been  called  to  the  conference,  and  consequently  when  Gen. 
Hood  urged  the  untenability  of  his  line,  and  supported  it  by 
bringing  one  of  Polk's  division  commanders  (French)  to  con- 
firm him,  although  Polk's  other  division  commanders  (Loring 
and  A\'althall)  offered  no  objection,  and  in  the  absence  of  Lieut, 
Gen,  Hardee,  (Jen.  Polk  could  o/t///  reply  upon  the  report  of 
his  chief  topographical  engineer,  Capt.  Morris,  and  Maj.  Gen. 
French,  and  svstaiv  Lieut.  Gen,  Hood  in  his  opinion  that  the 
line  could  not  ])e  held  after  an  attack. 

Gen,  Polk  was  too  noble  and  patriotic  to  care  for  his  })ersonal 
fame,  and  made  no  effort  during  his  life  to  put  himself  proper- 
ly on  record  for  his  connection  with  the  abandonment  of  the 
line  at  Cassville,  for  he  was  always  ready  to  give  battle  or  to 
take  any  responsi))ilities  of  his  position.  He  fought  for  his 
€ause.  not  for  his  re})utation. 


Al'I'ENDIX.  371 

Another  of  this  ofiou})  of  veterans  had  been  of  Hardee's  Corps 
on  that  occasion,  lie  recounted  that  his  l)attery  had  ))een  as- 
signed by  ""Old  Joe"  to  an  important  post  on  Hardee's  line, 
the  angle  at  which  the  left  flank  deflected  back.  Vividly  he  de- 
scribed his  position — the  knoll  upon  which  his  guns  were  planted, 
the  open  flelds  around,  that  gave  promise  of  great  slaughter  of 
the  foe  when  he  undertook  to  carry  the  point.  This  prospect, 
and  the  pride  arising  fi'om  the  very  danger  of  their  post,  stimu- 
lated the  men  in  their  labors  of  entrenching,  which  was  neces- 
sary at  this  end  of  the  line  of  battle,  where  there  were  none  of 
the  natural  advantages  the  troops  of  Polk  and  Hood  derived  from 
the  hills  on  which  they  Avere  posted.  But  all  worked  with  an  en- 
ergy that  arose  to  enthusiasm;  for  confidence  in  "  Old  Joe,"  con- 
fldence  in  the  ''Old  Reliable,"  and  confidence  in  themselves  in- 
spired the  men  of  this  company  as  it  did  those  of  the  whole  corps. 
The  redoubt  was  nearly  completed  when  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning  Capt.  Sid  Hardee,  of  Gen.  Hardee's  stafi',  rode  up  and 
ordered  the  work  to  cease  and  the  battery  made  ready  to  move. 
This  ofiicer  then  stated  that  the  intention  to  tight  a  battle  there 
was  abandoned;  that  Polk  and  Hood  had  insisted  that  they  could 
not  hold  their  position  in  the  line.  He  added  that  Gen.  Hardee 
had  objected  to  the  retreat,  and  had  offered  to  change  positions 
with  either  of  the  other  corps  rather  than  forego  giving  battle. 

In  deep  disappointment  and  disgust  Hardee's  men  moved  off, 
blaming  Polk  and  Hood  for  compelling  the  abandonment  of  a 
held  which  seemed  to  he  pregnant  with  a  glorious  victory. 

The  impressions  of  that  night  had  remained  inefl'acea])le,  and 
the  unfought  battle  had  been  a  deep  source  of  regret  during  the 
war,  and  of  deep  interest  since;  so  much  so  since  that  it  had 
led  to  a  correspondence  between  one  of  the  officers  of  the  com- 
pany and  Gen.  Johnston.  One  of  Hardee's  Corps. 

Rei'ia'  of  Gen.  French  to  "Reminiscences  of  the  War." 
Winter  Park,  Fla.,  December  12,  1893. 

Editor  Picayune. 

A  few  days  ago  a  friend  sent  me  a  copy  of  the  WeeMy  Pica- 
yune of  October  26  last,  containing  an  article  headed  "Reminis- 
cences of  the  War,"  that  contains  a  number  of  errors,  which  I 
desire  to  correct  so  far  as  they  rehite  to  me,  and  I  will  refer  to 
them  in  the  order  they  are  related  in  the  paper.     I  quote: 


372  Tivo  IVahs. 

1,  ''After  Polk's  Corps  had  taken  the  position  assigned  to  it 
on  the  left  of  Hood's  Cor])s  and  in  tlie  rear  of  Cassville.  Gen.  S. 
G.  French,  one  of  the  division  <2:enenils  of  the  corps,  sent  a  re- 
port to  Gen.  Polk  that  his  position  was  enfiladed  and  that  he 
could  not  hold  it." 

Any  line  can  be  cntiladcd  if  the  enemy  be  permitted,  undis- 
turbed, to  approach  near  enough  and  establish  batteries  on  the  pro- 
longation of  that  line.  Therefore  l)efore  any  person  can  re])ort  a 
line  enfiladed, the  guns  must  be  near  enough  to  sweep  it  with  shel  Is. 
To  report  that  a  point  near  the  center  of  a  long  line  of  battle 
cannot  be  held  before  the  issue  is  made  is  mere  conjectin-e,  and 
not  justifial^le,  and  I  have  no  recollection  of  having  made  such  a 
report,  and  deem  the  writer  is  in  error  in  his  statement.  A  man 
would  not  cry  out,  "Help  me,  Cassius,  or  I  sink,"  before  enter- 
ing the  water. 

2.  The  next  assertion  is  that  Gen.  Polk  "sent  Col.  Sevier  to 
ascertain  about  it,  and  this  officer  reported  ])ack  that,  in  his  opin- 
ion, Gen.  French  was  warranted  in  his  apprehension.  Gen. 
Polk  thereupon  requested  Col.  Sevier  to  proceed  to  Gen.  John- 
ston's hea(l(iuarters  and  place  the  facts  before  him,  which  that 
officer  did.  Gen.  Johnston  was  loath  to  believe  in  the  impossibili- 
ty of  holding  that  part  of  the  line,  etc.,  .  .  .  and  instructed  CoL 
Sevier  to  have  Gen.  French  ])uild  traverses.  This  general  consid- 
ered them  useless,  and  persisted  in  his  inability  to  hold  the  po- 
sition." 

In  answer  to  this,  I  repeat  that  I  have  no  recollection  of  hav- 
ing made  to  any  human  being  the  remarks  here  attributed  to  me. 
How,  in  the  name  of  common  sense,  could  any  division  officer  re- 
port, nuich  less  persist,  as  stated^  How  would  he  know  but 
that,  if  necessary  during  the  battle,  ample  support  would  be  sent 
him?  I  had  one  brigade  and  a  half  in  reserve  at  that  point  of 
the  line.  As  for  traverses,  I  never  heard  them  mentioned  ])e- 
fore,  in  reference  to  this  line.  And  now,  after  your  writer  has 
sent  Col.  Sevier  to  me  twice,  he  sends  to  me  Maj.  West,  and  it 
was  before  any  firing  had  taken  place,  and  he  (West)  could,  very 
properly,  ''form  no  opinion  unless  he  could  witness  the  fire  of 
the  enemy's  guns."  West  returned  to  Gen.  Polk,  reporting 
Gen.  French  liighly  wrought  iij)  about  the  exposure  of  his 
division,  and  (ien.  Polk  is  made  to  send  this  officer  likewise  to 
hunt  up  Gen.  Johnston,  and  after  "reporting  back  the  remarks 


Appendix.  373 

of  Gen.  Johnston,  Maj.  West  found  thatCapt.  Morris  had  reached 
Gen.  Polk's  headquarters,"  and  the  Captain  in  turn  "was 
sent  to  French's  position  to  make  a  thorouofh  survey  and  report 
of  it."  He  made  a  very  thorouofli  one,  and  reported  the  position 
very  exposed  foi-  the  defensive,  but  as  admira])le  for  the  offen- 
sive. 

I  have  Capt.  Morris's  re])()rt,  hut  I  do  not  liiid  in  it  where  he 
reported  the  line  as  admira])le  for  the  offensive.  I  will  have  oc- 
casion to  refer  to  this  report  after  a  while.  I  merely  wish  to  re- 
mark that  when  we  find  Capt.  Morris  at  Col.  Polk's  headquar- 
ters we  have  somethinof  tangible  in  regard  to  time. 

8.  And  the  article  goes  on  to  state  that  "Gen.  Polk,  since  the 
ffrst  report  from  Gen.  French,  appeared  much  annoyed  at  this 
unexpected  weakness  in  his  line,  which  from  the  pertinacity  of 
Gen.  French  was  growing  into  an  obstacle  to  the  impending  bat- 
tle, for  which  Gen.  Polk  shared  the  enthusiasm  and  confidence 
of  the  troops." 

Now,  contrast  this  w'ith  what  the  writer  says  farther  on  when 
he  tells  us:  "Gen.  Polk  had  so  little  confidence  in  the  represen- 
tations of  the  weakness  of  his  line  at  the  point  referred  to  that 
he  did  not  go  there  in  person." 

It  is  not  alwav^s  safe  to  divine  what  is  passing  through  a  man's 
mind  from  appearances,  and,  having  "little  confidence  in  the 
representations,"  the  deduction  of  "annoyance''  may  not  be 
correct  which  is  attributed  to  Gen.  Polk.  Now,  inasmuch  as 
Gen.  Polk  was  present  ( when  Gen.  F.  A.  Shoupe  "pointed  out  the 
fact  to  Gen.  Johnston  that  his  line  would  be  enfiladed  ])efore  the 
troops  were  posted,  and  suggested  a  change  of  position)  and 
strongly  supported  Shoupe's  objections,"  he  must  have  been  early 
apprised  of  the  general  condition  of  the  line  before  he  received 
the  alleged  report  from  me,  which  the  writer  explicitly  affirms 
was  sustained  by  Cols.  Sevier,  West,  and  Morris;  hence  the 
weakness  of  his  line  was  not  imcxpected,  and  should  not  "have 
grown  into  an  o])stacle  to  the  impending  l)attle."  Gen.  Shoupe's 
letter  will  be  found  in  Hood's  book,  page  105. 

4.  In  writing  a])out  the  conference  I  find  the  account  thus: 

"That  evening  about  sunset  Gen.  Hood  arrived  at  the  rendez- 
vous, accompanied  by  Gen.  French,  whose  division  rested  on  his 
left  in  line  of  battle.  Gen.  Polk  had  not  asked  Gen.  French — 
who  was  of  his  corps — to  be  present  for  the  occasion,  and  Gen. 


374  Two  Wahs. 

Hood's  artion  in  l)riiii:iiii:'  liiiii  was  altoircther  <rratiiitous.  On 
arriving  with  French,  Gen.  Hood  excused  his  action  by  stating 
that  he  considered  the  situation  so  vital  to  himself  and  French 
that  he  had  taken  the  liberty  to  ask  Gen.  French  to  come  with 
him  to  the  conference." 

This  shows  that  Polk  and  Hood  had  decided  (at  a  consultation 
in  advance)  to  hold  a  conference  l)efore  I  went  with  Hood  to  the 
rendezvous,  to  which  Ihcy  invited  Johnston.  About  my  being- 
there,  I  have  this  to  say,  and  the  facts  are  these:  The  little  fir- 
ing that  had  taken  place  almost  ceased  awhile  before  dark;  so, 
taking  a  staff  officer  with  me,  we  went  to  our  wagon  to  get  din- 
ner, and  while  returning  to  my  command  we  met  Gen.  Hood  on 
his  way  to  Gen.  Johnston's.  We  halted,  and  while  conversing 
he  told  me  that  his  line  was  enfiladed  by  the  batteries  of  the  en- 
emy in  position,  and  that  he  was  going  to  see  Gen.  Johnston  at 
Gen.  Polk's,  and  asked  me  to  ride  Avith  him  to  get  supper,  etc. 
His  meeting  me,  therefore,  was  purely  accidental,  and  this  place 
where  we  met  was  near  by  Polk's  quarters. 

So  I  went  with  him,  socially,  without  any  special  object  in 
view.  He  said  nothing  to  me  about  a  conference  to  be  held  on 
the  situation,  called  by  him  and  Gen.  Polk. 

Soon  after  supper  (lens.  Johnston,  Polk,  and  Hood  went  to 
Gen.  Polk's  otfice,  and  Gen.  fJohnston  asked  me  to  go  with  them. 

The  matter  ]:)rescnted  to  the  meeting  was:  "Can  we  win  the 
battle  on  the  morrow?  Can  we  hold  our  lineT'  Hood  said  he 
thought  not,  for  if  attacked  in  the  morning  he  would  not  be  able 
to  hold  his  line,  l)ecause  it  was  enfiladed  ])y  the  guns  of  the  en- 
emy, now  in  position,  and  that  (tcu.  Polk's  line  was  also  enfi- 
laded, and  could  not  be  held  against  a  vigorous  attack,  or  words 
to  that  effect. 

Gen.  Polk  continued  Hood's  statement  in  regard  to  iiis  line. 
Gen.  Johnston  maintained  the  contrary.  Of  course  I  took  no 
[)art  in  the  discussion.  When  asked.  I  explained  how  my  line 
curved,  near  the  end.  to  the  left,  suHicient  to  l>e  enfihuled  l)y  one 
battery  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  enemy's  line.  1  have  no  rec- 
ollection of  being  asked  if  I  could  hold  my  i)art  of  the  line,  but 
had  the  (juestion  been  asked  me,  I  am  (juite  sure  it  would  have 
been  suppositixcly  in  the  allii'nintive. 

As  the  whole  includes  all  the  parts,  so,  the  discussion  l>eingon 
Polk's  and  Hood's  lines  in  their  entirety,  the  parts  were  embraced 


Appendix.  375 

therein.  ;iii<l  not  speciticuUy  referred  to,  beinir  minor  considera- 
tions. 

Gen.  Johnston  urjjued  for  the  inuintenance  of  liis  plans  very 
firmly.  When  a  silence  occurred  in  the  discussion,  I  arose  and 
asked  permission  to  leave,  statinof  that  T  wished  to  ffo  to  my  line 
and  f ortif}'  it.  On  reaching  my  division,  1  set  every  one  to  work 
strenofthening  the  line  and  getting:  ready  for  the  impending  bat- 
tle, that  1  felt  sure  would  begin  in  the  morning.  While  we  were 
thus  busily  at  work,  and  at  about  the  hour  of  li  r.M.,  an  officer 
riding  along  my  line  stopped  and  told  me  that  the  work  would 
be  useless,  and  "intimated"  (that  is  the  word  written  in  my 
diary )  "that  the  army  would  be  withdrawn  or  fall  back  to-night!" 
Soon  after,  the  order  came  to  move  back  on  the  Cartersville  road. 
The  receipt  of  the  order  was  a  surprise  to  me,  notwithstanding 
the  intimation  that  had  been  made  to  me. 

5.  Toward  the  conclusion  of  the  article  it  reads: 

"Gen.  Polk  had  so  little  confidence  in  the  representations  of 
the  weakness  of  the  line  at  the  point  referred  to  that  he  did  not 
go  there  in  person.  But  for  Hood's  invitation,  Gen.  French 
would  not  have  been  called  to  the  conference,  and,  consequent- 
ly, when  Gen.  Hood  urged  the  untenability  of  his  line,  and  sup- 
ported it  by  bringing  one  of  Polk's  division  commanders — French 
— to  contirm  him,  Gen.  Polk  could  only  rely  upon  the  report  of 
his  chief  engineer — Capt.  Morris — and  Maj.  Gen.  French,  and 
sHstaln  Lieut.  Gen.  Hood  in  his  opinion  that  the  line  could  not 
be  held  after  an  attack." 

This  paragraph  is  adroitly  constructed,  and  api)arently  not  in- 
tended to  be  clear.  It  lirst  accuses  Gen,  Polk  of  having  little 
confidence  in  the  representations  of  Sevier,  West,  and  French, 
as  alleged  to  have  been  made  to  him;  but  when  Gen.  Hood  brings 
French  to  the  conference,  his  testimony  is  so  potent  as  to  make 
Polk  change  his  <)pinions'nxid.  sustain  Hood,  who  urged  the  un- 
tenability of  his  (Polk's)  line. 

This  is  all  wrong.  Hood  did  not  take  me  to  the  conference. 
I  did  not  support  or  confirm  Hood  in  his  representations.  I  have 
never  said  I  could  not  hold  my  part  of  the  line,  and  it  would 
have  been  presumption  to  do  so.  The  commanding  general 
would  see  that  the  line  at  that  point  was  defended. 

This  paragraph  also  re}^resents  Gen.  Polk  as  going  to  the  con- 
ference apparently  pre])ared  to  defend  his  line;  but  when  he  lis- 


376  Tiro  Wars. 

tens  to  Hood's  arofuments  he  chanofcs  his  mind  and  sustains 
Hood:  and  thus,  with  two  of  his  c'or})s  commanders  opposed  to 
defendin^r  their  lines,  .Johnston  deemed  it  Wetter  to  decline  the 
impending  battle. 

B.  On  page  110  in  Hood's  book  you  will  tind  the  ])eginning  of 
a  letter  from  Ca])t.  W.  J.  Morris,  Gen.  Polk's  chief  engineer, 
fiom  which  1  will  make  some  quotations.  al)l)reviating  them  as 
much  as  possible.  He  says  he  arrived  at  Cassville  station 
about  P>:80  or  4  p.m..  ]\Iay  19,  1864.  Col.  (irale  was  there  to 
meet  him  and  to  tell  him  that  Gen.  Polk  wanted  to  see  him  as 
soon  as  he  arrived.  He  had  half  a  mile  to  go  to  Polk's  <juar- 
ters.  He  met  (len.  Polk  at  the  door.  He  says  it  took  him  about 
half  an  hour  to  examine  a  ma})  that  Polk  placed  before  him  and 
make  notes  of  the  General's  wishes,  and  fifteen  minutes  to  ride 
from  Polk's  headcpiarters  to  the  line  that  was  reported  to  be  en- 
filaded. When  he  left  Polk's  hcadiiuarters  he  thinks  (len.  Hood 
was  there.  It  took  him  about  two  hours  to  examine  the  lines, 
angles,  elevations,  and  })ositions  of  the  batteries  of  the  enemy 
established  on  their  line  in  front  of  Hood,  and  his  o})inion  and 
conclusions  were: 

"(1)  That  the  right  of  the  line  of  Polk's  command  could  not 
be  held.  ( 2 )  That  traverses  would  be  of  n(  >  a  \  ai  I .  etc.  (  3 )  That 
it  was  extremely  hazardous  for  Gen.  Polk  to  advance  his  line 
to  make  an  attack  upon  the  enemy  while  the  batteries  held  the 
positions  they  then  occupied." 

•'Having  made  the  reconnoissance,  he  retui'iied  to  (ien.  Polk's 
liead(]uarters  just  after  (hirk.  Gen.  Polk  immediately  sent  for 
Gen.  Johnston.     Gen.  Hood  was  at  Gen.  Polk's." 

You  will  thus  ])erceive  that  the  conference  to  be  held  Avas  de- 
termine<l  on  l)etween  Polk  and  Hood,  before  ]\lorris  made  his 
report  to  Polk,  liecause  Hood  was  already  there,  for  I  rode  with 
him  to  the  ''rendezvous." 

7.  On  the  8th  of  May,  1874,  (ien.  Hood  wrote  me  a  letter  to 
know  what  I  knew  about  the  "vexed  question"  of  retii'ing  from 
Gassville.  He  had  forgotten  that  he  had  met  me  in  the  road; 
that  he  had  invited  me  to  ride  with  him  to  see  Gen.  Johnston, 
or  that  1  was  at  the  conference,  and  said  he  "only  learned  that 
I  was  at  the  conference  from  Johnston's  narrative,"  etc. 

I  answered  his  letter  from  New  York,  where  I  then  was,  from 
recollection,  without  reference  to  my  diary.     I  have  l)oth  his 


Ar/-KM>f\.  377 

letter  Jind  my  answer.  Gen.  Hood  and  I  had  talked  this  matter 
over  at  len,<rtli  at  the  Alleo^heny  Sprinjrs,  Va.,  in  the  simnner  of 
1872,  diti'erin«j:,  however,  about  not  remaining-  at  Cassville  and 
the  defensive  strenofth  of  the  lines. 

8.  Without  endeavorino;  to  recall  to  mind  pictures  of  scenes 
throuofh  the  mist  of  thirty  years  in  the  past,  or  to  revive  recol- 
lections of  words  used  in  the  lono;,  long-  ago,  I  will  refer  to  my 
diary,  and  what  was  written  day  by  day  therein. 

After  we  had  formed  a  line  of  battle  east  of  Cassville,  and  ma- 
neuvered with  Hood  with  a  view  to  attacking  the  enemy,  our 
troops  began  in  the  afternoon  to  fall  back  to  a  line  of  hills  south 
of  Cassville.  Cockrell's  Brigade,  that  was  in  reserve,  had  been 
ordered  to  a  hill  there  early.  The  diary  says:  "I  received  or- 
ders at  4  P.M.  to  fall  back  from  the  line  east  of  Cassville  and 
form  behind  the  division  of  Gen.  Canty  and  Cockrell's  Brigade, 
which  I  did.  As  there  was  an  interval  between  Hood's  line 
(Hindman)  and  Canty,  I  placed  there,  in  position,  Hoskins's 
Battery  and  the  half  of  Ector's  Brigade.  This  left  Sears's  Bri- 
gade and  the  half  of  Ector's  in  reserve,  Cockrell  being  on  Canty's 
left  in  line. 

"About  5  P.M.  our  pickets  from  the  extreme  front  were  driven 
in  toward  the  second  line  by  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Hoskins's 
Battery  opened  on  them  and  checked  the  advance.  About  5:30 
P.M.  the  enemy  got  their  batteries  in  position  and  opened  fire  on 
my  line.  One  battery  on  my  right  entiladed  a  part  of  my  line." 
The  diary  then  refers  to  my  going  to  dinner,  meeting  Gen. 
Hood  and  riding  with  him  over  to  Gen.  Polk's,  leaving  the  con- 
ference, l)elieving  we  would  light,  etc. 

y.  We  are  now,  Mr.  Editor,  getting  beyond  the  hypothetical, 
for  we  have  determined  certain  facts  pretty  accurately — viz, : 

The  hour  I  received  the  order  to  fall  back  from  east  of  Cass- 
ville, the  time  our  skirmishers  were  driven  in,  and  when  the 
tiring  commenced;  also  the  hour  that  Capt.  Morris  arrived. 

Capt.  Morris  declares  that  he  arrived  between  3  :  30  and 
4  P.M.  If  he  be  correct,  I  was  at  that  time  with  my  troops 
east  of  Cassville.  and  it  is  certain  no  report  could  have  been 
made  l)y  me  until  after  the  enemy's  artillery  commenced  tiring. 
Now  mark  what  is  declared  to  have  taken  place  after  the  al- 
leged report  was  said  to  have  lieen  received  by  Gen.  Polk. 

It  would  take  an  ofhcer  certainly  fifteen  minutes  to  ride  from 


378  Two  Wars. 

Polk's  lioiuhiuartcrs  to  lloskins's  Battery — a  mile  and  a  half  dis- 
tant— examine  the  lines,  the  position  of  the  enemy,  the  eti'ects  of 
the  tire,  and  diseviss  the  situation;  then  the  same  leno^th  of  time 
to  return  to  (ien.  Polk  and  eonfer  with  him.  Then  it  would  re- 
quire the  same  k'nirth  of  time  to  iro  in  (juest  of  Gen.  Johnston, 
report  to  him  and  explain  the  situati(m  of  affairs  minutely;  then 
to  return  to  Gen.  Polk  and  report  it  to  him;  then  to  come  to  my 
line  a  second  time,  and  return  to  Gen.  Polk.  These  two  trips 
to  mv  line  and  one  to  Gen.  Johnston  would  have  occupied  one 
hour  and  a  half.  Next  Maj.  West  received  instructions  to  go 
and  examine  the  line,  and  as  there  was  no  tiring,  he  could  form 
no  opinion.  l)ut  only  talk  with  me.  Then  he  went  back  to  Gen. 
Polk  and  made  his  report;  thence  he  too  was  ordered  to  go  in 
(juest  of  Gen.  Johnston,  and  found  him  somewhere,  reported 
to  him,  and  returned.  This  would  have  required  about  one 
hour.  So  the  line  from  Polk's  to  my  extreme  right  Avas  ridden 
over  six  times,  examined  and  discussed,  and  four  times  from 
Gen.  Polk's  to  where  Gen.  Johnston  was,  consuming  not  less 
than  two  hours  and  a  half.  Capt.  Morris  w\as  not  yet  at  Gen. 
Polk's  ([uarters  when  Maj.  West  went  in  quest  of  Gen.  John- 
ston, but  he  found  he  had  arrived  when  he  returned  from  Gen. 
Johnston's. 

Xow,  it  is  plain  that,  if  my  alleged  report  to  Gen.  Polk  put 
all  this  in  motion,  it  must  have  been  received  by  him  at  l:o<l 
P.M.,  because  we  know  that  it  terminated  soon  after  the  arrival 
of  Capt.  Morris  at  Polk's  (| uarters  at  4  p.m.  Soon  after  this' 
Capt.  Morris  was  ordered  down  to  examine  the  line,  which  he 
did,  and  we  have  his  report. 

The  question  of  time  may  ])e  determined  in  another  Avay:  If  1 
sent  a  report  to  Gen.  Polk,  it  w^as  carried  a  mile  and  a  half  to 
him  by  courier.  Next,  consider  Col.  Sevier  and  ^laj.  West  in 
the  light  of  one  person.  That  person  nuist  have  traveled  about 
thirteen  miles,  received  seven  separate  sets  of  instructions  from 
Gens.  Polk  and  Johnston,  made  five  carefully  matured  reports  on 
the  situation,  and  what  was  said  by  me  and  Gen.  Johnston,  and 
made  at  least  two  careful  examinations  of  our  line,  noted  the  po- 
sition of  the  enemy,  watched  the  liring  and  noted  the  effect  of 
the  same,  and  it  could  not  ))hysically  have  been  performed  imder 
two  hoiu's  and  a  half;  and  yet  youi-  pul)lished  article  says  that  it 
was  all  pcrfoi-mccl  diu'ing  the  interval  between  receiving  my  re- 


Appendix.  379 

})oit  and  the  departure  of  Morris  to  iiiukc  his  survey,  which  was 
about  4  P.M. 

If  I  made  a  report,  as  stated,  it  was  done  after  the  tirincr  com- 
menced, and  hence  it  must  have  been  dark  wiien  Maj.  West  re- 
turned from  his  interview  with  Gen.  Johnstcm, 

The  conchision,  therefore,  must  be  that  from  the  leno'th  of 
time  the  writer's,  or  relator's,  memory  has  failed  to  recall  events 
as  they  were  thirty  years  ago. 

Tliere  was  only  a  small  part  of  my  line  entiladed,  and  that  was 
caused  l)y  its  curvino;  to  the  left  near  the  ravine,  where  Hoskins's 
Battery  was. 

If  Hood's  line  was  entiladed,  I  did  not  discover  it,  and  Capt. 
Morris's  plan,  pul)lished  in  the  War  Records  (plate  62),  would  be 
faulty,  for  the  enemy's  line  is  nearly  parallel  with  his.  To  con- 
clude, I  have  shown  that  if  all  this  passing  to  and  fro  of  officers 
took  place  between  me  and  Gen.  Polk,  and  between  Polk  and 
Johnston,  it  must  have  commenced  about  1:80  p.m.,  to  have 
have  ended  at  -i  p.m.,  which  could  not  be,  for  I  was  then  east  of 
Cassville.  On  the  other  hand,  if  a  report  was  carried  to  Gen. 
Polk  about  my  line  being  entiladed,  it  must  have  been  done  after 
.5:30  P.M.;  and  this  going  to  and  fro,  with  examinations  and  dis- 
cussions, could  not  have  been  accomplished  l)efore  8  p.m.,  where- 
as it  is  stated  to  have  been  done  before  Capt.  Morris  left  Polk's 
headquarters,  at  4-:30  p.m.,  either  of  which  is  incredible. 

Very  respectfully,  S.  G.  French.  • 

P.  S. — The  result  of  the  two  hours'  shelling  of  my  line  in  cas- 
ualties was  one  officer  and  nine  men  wounded — none  killed. 
Horses,  three  killed.  A  small  matter  to  create  any  apprehen- 
sion, as  described  in  your  article.  The  order  placing  me  in  com- 
mand of  Canty' i<  Division  has  no  hour  date. 

Your  readers  will  perceive  that  it  was  not'l  who  influenced 
Gen.  Polk  in  this  aft'air.  In  fact,  I  was  in  reserve  and  had  no 
troops  in  line  of  l)attle  except  CockrelTs  Brigade — and  that  was 
al)out  the  center  of  the  line — until  I  was  oidered  to  take  com- 
mand of  Canty's  Division.  How  absurd,  then,  all  this  rigma- 
role about  my  saying  I  could  not  hold  my  line,  and  my  testimo- 
ny influencing  (Jen.  Polk.  S.  G.  F. 

From  the  foregoing  papers  it  is"  evident  that  I  was  left  alone 
east  of  the  village  of  Cassville.    After  Gen.  Johnston  had  placed 


380  Tivo  Wars. 

the  troops  of  his  right  wing  in  position,  an  order  was  sent,  and 
received  by  me  at  4  p.m.,  directing  nie  to  fall  back  and  form  my 
troops  in  the  ywrr  of  CockrclTs  Brigade  and  Canty's  Division. 
This  put  my  di\4sion  in  reserve.,  except  Cockrell's  Brigade,  which 
was  on  Canty's  left.  Thus  I  found  myself  in  reserve  in  rear  of  the 
the  line  of  ))attle.  This  could  not  have  been  done  before  4:30 
r.M.  Now,  could  I  report  that  1  could  not  hold  my  line  when  I 
had  none,  or  only  one  brigade,  and  that  in  the  center  of  a  line 
of  battle  several  miles  in  length  i  However,  soon  an  order  was 
received  (without  an  hour  date)  for  me  to  take  command  of 
Canty's  Division,  and  to  put  or  leave  Cockrell's  Brigade  in  Lor- 
ing's  Division.  I  was  now  in  couunand  of  two  divisions,  less  one 
In'igade. 

On  going  to  the  right  of  Canty's  Division,  I  found  a  gap,  a  dry 
water  gully,  and  its  approaches  unoccupied.  From  necessity  I 
had  to  take  a  part  of  a  brigade  (Ector's),  so  as  to  connect  with 
Hood's  left.  Then  Hoskins's  Battery  was  put  in  position  al)Out 
tifty  yards  in  advance  on  an  eminence  in  front  of  a  gap.  Soon 
the  enemy's  cavalry  appeared  in  front  of  the  gap,  and  were  dis- 
persed by  the  tire  of  Hoskins's  guns.  The  enemy  now  began  to 
estal)lish  their  batteries  on  the  ridge  in  front  of  Hood's  line,  es- 
pecially near  his  right,  and  soon  they  opened  fii-e  on  Hoskins's 
Battery.  About  sunset  the  tire  slackened,  when  Maj.  Shingleur, 
of  my  stati',  and  1  went  to  our  wagon  in  the  rear  to  get  our  din- 
ner. Up  to  this  time  I  heard  never  a  word  about  not  holding  the 
line.  I  knew  nothing  about  horsemen  or  couriers  or  aids  dash- 
ing about  hunting  (lens.  .Johnston  and  Polk  and  me  on  the  line, 
and  I  never  heard  it  mentioned  until  1  read  it  in  the  newspaper 
sent  to  me  one  month  after  it  was  |)ublished,  and  thirty  years 
after  we  left  Cassville. 

It  was  perhaps  2  p.m.  when  (icn.  Johnston  lost  all  hope  that 
Hood,  with  the  two  corps  as  his  connnand,  would  engage  the  de- 
tached forces  of  the  enemy  marching  to  our  right,  and  crush 
them  before  Sherman  could  aid  them.  So  no  alternative  was 
left  hiiu  ])ut  to  form  a  line  of  battle  on  selected  ground,  and  act 
on  the  defensive,  Wlmt  followed  after  this  has  l)een  already 
sketched. 

I  am  sorry  this  article,  so  replete  with  errors,  was  ever  pub- 
lished on  account  of  Gen.  Polk — a  no])le,  kind-hearted  man,  ever 
practicing  the  amenities  of  life— for  it  makes  him  ai)pear  rather 


A  I'i'ESDix.  381 

contumacious  in  joinino:  Gen.  Hood,  and  making  arrangements 
to  invite  their  connnander  to  meet  them  at  their  "rendezvous" 
to  listen  to  their  comphiints,  and  almost  dictating  what  should 
be  done  after  the  failure  of  the  contemplated  morning  attack. 
The  writer  was  evidently  aware  that  l)()th  Hood  and  Polk  were 
almost  disobedient  in  their  acts  at  Cassville. 

Thirty  years  had  rolled  by,  and  the  incidents  were  almost  for- 
gotten, when  this  writer,  to  smooth  the  matter  over,  maladroit- 
ly  seizes  the  fact  that  I  went  Avith  Hood  to  Polk's  headquarters, 
and  tries  to  make  it  appear  that  I  had  influenced  Gen.  Polk  by 
representations  to  change  his  opinion,  and  join  Hood  in  the 
statement  that  their  lines  were  untenable.  I  never  saw  Gen. 
Polk  after  he  left  the  position  east  of  Cassville  until  I  met  him 
at  his  quarters  where  I  went  to  supper,  and  I  do  not  remember 
ever  sending  a  message  or  report  to  him  that  day. 

He  says:  "Gen.  Polk  was  too  noble  and  patriotic  to  care  for 
his  j)ersonal  fame,  and  made  no  effort  during  his  life  to  put  him- 
self properly  on  record  for  his  connection  with  the  abandonment 
of  the  line  at  Cassville,  for  he  was  always  ready  to  give  battle 
or  take  any  responsibilities  of  his  position.  He  fought  for  his 
cause,  and  not  for  his  reputation."" 

The  writer  did  not  even  know  that  1  was  present  at  the  coun- 
cil of  the  commanders,  and  heard  l)()th  Hood  and  Polk  give  their 
opinions  on  their  side,  and  Johnston  on  the  other.  Therefore, 
as  I  difi'ered  from  both  Hood  and  Polk,  1  could  not  have  influ- 
enced Gen.  Polk  to  "sustain  Gen,  Hood."  Furthermore,  in  jus- 
tice to  myself  and  for  the  truth  of  history,  I  desire  to  correct  the 
many  erroneous  statements  made  in  the  article  pu])lished.  Be- 
cause a  line  is  enfiladed  it  does  not  follow  that  it  cannot  be  held. 
During  the  battle  of  Atlanta  twice  I  was  obliged  to  hold  enfiladed 
lines  nearly  an  entire  day.  Gen.  Polk  did  not  examine  his  line 
of  battle  after  my  division  arrived.  It  is  the  duty  of  a  soldier 
to  obey  an  order,  and  not  to  discuss  it,  and  any  soldier  who  l^e- 
fore  a  ])attle  commences  reports  that  he  cannot  hold  a  position 
when  a  whole  army  is  drawn  up  should  be  relieved  from  com- 
mand. 

Jackson,  Miss.,  January  15.  1894. 

Gen.  8.  G.  French,  Winter  Park,  Fla. 

My  Dear  General:  I  have  read  carefully  your  letter  of  the  8th  iustant: 
also  the  newspaper  article,  "  Vox  Fopuli,"  and  lind  your  statement  in  this 


382  Th-o  n\4i.'s. 

article  perfectly  correct.  I  was  the  stall"  olMcer  who  accompanied  you  to 
Gen.  Polk"s  headquarters.  .  .  .  Hood  said  that  he  would  ride  with 
you  to  Polk's  headijuarters,  as  he  was  to  meet  Gen.  Johnston  there.  .  .  . 
We  rode  along  leisurely,  you  and  Hood  in  front,  myself  and  one  or  two  of 
Hood's  staff  in  the  rear.  This  was  possibly  an  hour  after  dark.  Arriving  at 
Gen.  Polk's,  we  found  there,  besides  Gen.  Polk,  Gens.  Johnston  and  Har- 
dee.    [This  is  an  error.      Neither  was  there  when  we  arrived. — S.  G.  F.] 

Of  what  happened  at  the  consultation  room  of  course  I  know  nothing. 
I  am  sure  that  you  came  from  the  room  between  10  and  11  o'clock,  fol- 
lowed by  Gen.  Johnston,  who.  standing  on  the  steps,  told  you  when  you 
went  back  to  your  command  to  have  the  word  i)assed  througli  your  di- 
vision that  we  would  fight  in  the  morning,  and  prepare  for  it.     .     .     . 

About  1  A.M.  I  was  waked  up  Ijj'  some  one  inquiring  for  Gen.  Fx-ench's 
headquarters.  ...  A  courier  said  that  he  had  an  order  for  you,  Avhich 
Ave  read  by  making  a  light.  It  was  the  order  for  us  to  move,  with  instruc- 
tions to  leave  a  few  men  at  the  breastworks  to  hammer  and  make  a  noise 
to  conceal  our  retreat.  I  am  sure  this  order  fell  upon  us  like  a  bomb- 
shell. 

If  you  uttered  a  word  about  having  a  position  that  you  could  not  hold. 
I  never  heard  of  it:  and  if  you  had  thought  so.  I  am  sure  that  you  would 
have  mentioned  it  to  me.  On  the  other  hand.  I  remember  clearly  that  we 
discussed  the  situation,  and  both  concluded  that  we  held  a  very  strong  po- 
sition, and  could  hold  it  against  all  odds.     .     .     . 

Now  all  this  Cassville  affair  is  as  clear  to  my  mind  as  on  the  night  that 
it  happened.  There  is  no  doubt  upon  my  mind  that  Gen.  Hood,  and  he 
alone,  was  responsible  for  our  retreat  from  Ca.ssville.  It  is  all  a  mistake 
about  French  and  all  stafT  officers  being  sent  l)eyond  earshot.  .  .  .  When 
we  left  Gen.  Polk's  headcjuarters  you  and  I  went  alone.  Hood  remained. 
I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  put  this  matter  right,  and  let  the  responsibility 
rest  where  it  properly  belongs. 

Verj-  glad  to  hear  from  you.     With  best  wishes,  etc. 

Yours  very  truly.  J.  A.  Shingleuk. 


Savannah.  August  8.  1874. 

Gen.  S.  G.  Frencli. 

Dear  (ieneral:  Long  aljsence  prevented  my  receiving  and  acknowledg- 
ing your  very  clear  and  satisfactory  reply  to  my  question  on  the  subject  of 
small  arms.  It  is  all  that  I  could  desire.  I  wish  only  to  meet  such  of  Hood's 
assertions  as  impugn  the  tnith  of  \ny  statements.  If  he  goes  on,  and  I  un- 
derstand that  he  intends  to  do  so,  I  shall  avail  my.self  of  your  kind  offer. 

("an  you  not  sometimes  take  Savannah  in  your  way  from  Mi-ssissippi 
to  New  York,  and  vice  i^ersd"?  It  would  l)e  very  pleasant  to  me  to  see  you 
in  my  house,  where  there  is  always  am])le  room  for  yon  and  cordial  wel- 
come. 

Yours  trulv.  J.  E.  Johnston. 


Ari'Esnix.  383 

Savannah.  ,]\\w  13.  1874. 

Gen.  S.  G.  French. 

Dear  Oenercd:  You  may  have  oltscrvcd  iliat  (ien.  Hood  lias  renewed  his 
attacks  on  rue  in  his  report  of  IHtio.  His  last  shot  is  in  the  form  of  a  letter 
signed  Ijy  poor  old  Oladowski.  the  ordnance  ofiicer,  in  which  it  is  asseried 
that  the  army  lost  lU.OOO  small  arms  in  the  part  of  the  canijjaign  in  Avhich 
1  commanded.  As  I  have  no  ordnance  returns.  I  can  only  refute  this  cal- 
umny by  the  testimony  of  the  most  prominent  ofhcers,  and  in  that  con- 
nection beg  you  to  write  me  (for  publication)  aljout  the  number  of  muskets 
your  division  lost  in  the  campaign,  if  any.  Certainlj'  the  enemy  took 
none,  for  you  never  failed  to  hold  the  ground  intrusted  to  you.  You 
probably  have  some  idea  of  the  probable  losses  of  arms  by  your  cor])S.  or 
if  it  had  any  los.ses.  And  can  you  say,  perhaps,  if  those  losses  could  have 
been  great  enough  to  correspond  with  Col.  Oladowski's  statement?  You 
will  oblige  me  ver,y  much  l)y  giving  me  whatever  information  you  can  in 
relation  to  this  matter. 

Very  truly  vours,  J.  E.  Johnston. 


Slavery  Proclamation  and  Confiscation  Act. 

The  act  of  contiscatiou,  and  the  President's  proclamation  set- 
ting free  the  slaves  in  the  Confederacy,  could  not  abolish  slav- 
ery, because  it  existed  under  the  laws  of  the  States.  It  altered 
no  State  law,  but  it  did  alfect  slavery  in  this  way:  it  caused 
many  slaves  to  leave  their  owners,  and  thus  diminished  their 
property  and  their  wealth,  but  they  could  1)uy  others  under 
the  law. 

The  President  has  no  leofislative  power;  he  cannot  declare  mar- 
tial law.  for  it  overthrows  the  constitution,  and  his  will  would 
become  the  law;  how  can  the  President,  an  executive  officer, 
nullify  laws  and  condemn  and  punish  at  his  pleasure? 

The  great  latent  power  in  the  constitution  is,  in  Art.  I.,  Sec. 
8,  to  provide  for  the  common  defense  and  general  welfare.  Un- 
der this  section  almost  all  the  outrages  of  the  war  were  commit- 
ted, restrained  only  by  international  rules  of  war;  but  these 
were  utterly  ignored  under  the  plea  that  this  war  is  only  a  re- 
bellion, a  family  affair.  Under  this  article  resides  the  power  to 
imposes  taxes  to  any  amount  for  the  connnon  defense  and  public 
welfare. 

The  coniiscation  act  of  Congress  was  declared  by  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court  to  be  unconstitutional,  and,  in  truth,  it  was 
passed  as  a  pimishment  against  the  "' rebels,"  without  an  indict- 
ment, trial,  or  conviction.     The  constitution  declares  that  the 


384  7'no  Wahs. 

trhil  of  all  crliiKs.  exrcpt  in  cases  of  iini)eac-lniK'nt.  shall  !»(>  by 
jury. 

As  the  sla\e  owners  weix'  callecl  the  only  j>r! rilciicd  class  in 
the  United  States,  it  is  pertinent  to  in(|uiie  if  they  did  not  exist 
in  all  the  States  when  the  Union  \vas  formed,  and  if  the  North 
did  not  sell  their  title  to  he  yet  a  privileired  class  for  a  mess  of 
pottao^e:  and  then  IiowIimI  ;it  the  i)ureliasers  for  l)eino-  a  privi- 
leared  ]ieopleI 

Who  deinan(U'(l  the  continual  enlargement  of  slavery  by  mak- 
ing it  legal  to  steal  or  purchase  negroes  from  Africa  until  the 
year  1S<»S,  to  give  employment  to  the  six  hundred  slave  ships 
owned  in  the  North  i  for  the  statement  is  that  toward  the  close 
of  the  slave  trade  there  were  about  that  numl)er  belonging  to 
New  England  and  New  York  engaged  in  that  pious  enteri)rise. 
We  know  the  town  of  Newport,  K.  L,  had  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty ships  employed  in  this  money-making  trade  in  the  year 
1750,  and  undoubtedly  the  number  increased  largely  in  after 
years,  when  made  legal;  so.  on  the  whole,  no  doul)t  six  hundred 
ships  were  in  the  trade. 

The  question  here  presents  itself — and  it  is  a  proper  one  to  ask 
— who  first  oAvned  these  slaves;  how  did  they  obtain  them;  how 
did  they  treat  them:  and  to  whom  <lid  they  sell  these  human  be- 
ings for  money;  and  then,  with  the  price  of  blood  in  their 
pockets,  begin  to  preach  against  the  sin  of  slavery?  Ye  hypo- 
crites! w'ho  thank  God  "we  are  not  slave  owners,  we  got  rid  of 
them  long  ago." 

It  has  been  sai<l  by  a  Northern  writei-  that  "indirectly,  and  for 
;he  purpose  of  a  more  equal  distribution  of  direct  taxes,  the 
framers  of  the  constitution  tolerated  while  they  condemned 
slavery;  but  they  tolerated  it  because  they  believed  it  would  soon 
disappear.  They  even  refused  to  allow  the  charter  of  their  own 
liberties  to  be  polluted  bv  the  mention  of  the  word  .shtrr;  but 
take  heed,  did  not  this  convention  give  way  to  the  clamor  of  the 
owners  of  slave  ships  to  continue  for  twenty  years  the  increase 
of  slavery^  They  could  not,  consistently  with  honor  or  self-re- 
.spect,  transmit  to  future  ages  tJie  evidence  that  some  of  them 
had  traniph'il  uixm  the  inalienable  rights  of  others.'' 

''Though  slavei-y  was  thus  tolerated  l)y  being  ignored,  we 
shoiihl  not  dishonor  the  memory  of  those  who  organize(l  the  gov- 
ernnicnl   1o  sui)])ose  that  they  did  int<'n(l  to  bestow  upon  it  the 


Api'i:xdlx.  385 

l)()\\i'i-  to  maintain  it>  own  autiiority,  the  ria'lit  to  overthrow  or 
rcnioxe  shivery  or  whatever  niio^ht  prove  fatal  to  its  permanence 
or  destroy  its  u.sefulness." 

The  answ'er  is:  I't-.y,  but  not  l)y  niakinji'  war  and  laying  waste 
the  country;  burning  dwellings,  public  Ijuildings,  towns;  sink- 
ing shipi)ing.  blockades;  cai^turing,  killing,  imprisoning  inno- 
cent people;  nor  by  creating  enormous  deljts,  nor  yet  by  cruel 
war,  but  by  removing  the  evil  l)y  compensation  "for  the  term 
(if  serrlce'"'  of  the  slaves  to  their  owners. 

The  government  is  under  obligation  to  compensate  parentx^ 
masters  of  apjyrentlces^  masters  of  slaves  for  loxs  of  service  and 
labor  of  their  sul)jects  who  are  enlisted  in  the  army  and  navy, 
for  the  constitution  I'ccogni/es  slaves  as  "persons  held  to  labor 
or  service." 

England  coni])cllcd  the  alxjlition  of  slavery  in  her  colonies, 
and  she  paid  in  compensation  to  the  slave  owners  one  hundred 
million  dollars.  Out  of  this,  the  Cape  Colony,  in  Africa,  ob- 
tained fifteen  million  dollars,  which  was  about  four  hundred  dol- 
lars per  slave. 

If,  then,  slavery  was  l^elieved  to  be  fatal  to  the  permanence 
of  the  constitution,  it  could  have  been  abolished  as  it  was  in 
England,  or  in  some  equitable  way  without  the  clash  of  arms. 


Indenture. 

This  Indenture  is  here  presented  for  no  other  purpose  than  to 
evidence  the  mode  of  manumitting  slaves  by  the  Abolition  So- 
ciety in  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  about  four  years  after  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States  was  framed. 

From  this  instrument  of  writing  it  appears  that  "Betty"  was 
set  free  (so  called)  on  the  14th  of  Septeml^er,  1792,  on  condi- 
tion that  she  should  l)ecome  a  bond  ser^■ant  by  contract  for  seven 
years.  Her  signature  to  the  indenture  (original)  is  made  on 
the  left-hand  corner,  and  not  covered  by  the  photograph. 

From  the  wording  of  her  indenture  to  her  master  Bordley,  it 
would  appear  that  verily  her  second  condition  was  worse  than  her 
tirst,  and  her  last  worse  than  all;  for  in  her  fifty-seventh  year 
she  was  to  be  turned  adrift  in  her  old  age,  possessed  of  only  two 
suits  of  apparel — "one  of  which  is  to  be  new" — to  struggle  with 
adversity.  She  was  now,  however,  free  to  play  cards  and  dice, 
25 


...,^^^ 


f  itdim  '*/  j)»*i  V'iii»i.'i'  aiiifi  r\fi'//«r|i|  oiJ  ,1/  /'  <m  .Ipfrcif 

I:-- ti  Inve  A-.'  ^■'•-    -■;>■';•■'••'•-'•■■■••'  ■     '     '^'"'*"['' 

•  -)  the  D.i^  ^'  ihe  D.:!t  fi<-i.-  ' 

'.,/  J\rm  if  i<V  ■-<■««  ,f^"^  ■  • 

luxl   enfuing.      During  all  u7.,  ■'•   /  '     . 
•1   A(<w#.>i-»'-    f.iilh.iii/h  /h<i/l/cn.t;   b'l  &,art<  knft,  b'l  itt^i'/nit  'y,iirti,iiut 
>   ^.^f~r  ■■■•■''■-'  '■■■v.hlf  '/■■•,     ,<;/>'  i!<„IIJn\<'^  l\imirte  lit  her  JmJ  .U  •  //^i 

•  ,  '  '     '    '      •! ;  ir  iriviHg  NotiCL  ihcn/' 

}  Af.-.V-.)  Gocft,  nir  Uiul 
■t    Fornir.ilr  <t,    ti  r  r  .'i' '  n't 

■fell.  Stv,  jhi'l  n')t  i>'/.-7tC 
•  Sen'iti!  -witb'Mt  l»i 

'honfet  t  hnt  iitnll  Thing! 
t  to  fl*,   Jiin'n'z  ih,'  iaiJ 


\ 


I ... 

Myi 


'Viijhin^,Jill: 


olh/-i .  ^ 

Pj,i.        ,•• 

tire     C"'- '•■■/•"     •  //i"  J)iJ/  c/    I 

Oiii  'ihoujdiid^     ■  1  Hundred  mill 


btr.t  ■lbvn:„.iv,s   ,•;,/■    ::,:!:    :    . 

r/IWESS   whctyd,   tlu    I,:.! 

Imdl    ,111.1   \:ili   i>.'', ■■,'::■>.       /);!/<:! 
■  /ftn  ,'■  uini. 


1irdB-tZAf_^ 


.///. 


^^c/e./:.^' 


Ai-PKXDix.  387 

go  to  alehouses,  taverns,  and  i)layhouses,  and  dance  and  contract 
marriage,  etc. 

It  would  ])e  interesting  to  know  how  she  passed  the  remain- 
ing years  of  her  life.  That  is  buried  in  oblivion.  Had  she  re- 
mained a  slave — "held  to  a  service  of  labor,"  which  was  her  tirst 
condition — she  would  have  had  a  home  for  life.  To  depend  on 
the  benevolence  of  the  Northern  people  was  to  l)e  in  a  worse 
condition  than  that  of  a  slave,  for  the  slave  did  know  that  he 
had  a  friend  and  a  home  for  life. 

How  little  is  known,  even  at  this  day,  at  the  North  of  the  gen- 
eral relation  between  the  owner  and  the  slave  in  the  latter  days 
of  slavery's  existence!  and  I  hope  it  will  not  shock  the  sensibil- 
ity or  puritanical  feelings  of  ye  scribes  and  Pharisees  when  I 
state  that  in  the  family  graveyard  near  Columbus,  Ga.,  where 
my  wife's  father  and  mother  and  some  of  her  brothers  and  sis- 
ters rest,  there  repose  the  remains  of  their  Aunt  Betty,  who 
nursed  all  the  children  of  the  family.  She  was,  in  name,  a  slave; 
in  reality,  she  had  all  the  privileges  of  a  member  of  the  family, 
and  when  she  died  the  children  declared  she  should  sleep  beside 
them  in  death,  as  she  had  lived  with  them  in  life  and  would 
rise  with  them  at  the  resurrection. 

I  could  tell  where  a  slave,  after  her  death,  was  carried  near 
fifty  miles  to  sleep  in  the  family  graveyard,  with  her  master  and 
mistress,  who  had  preceded  her  to  the  sacred  spot  where  dust 
returns  to  dust.  These,  and  other  instances  I  know,  speak  of 
kind  feelings,  and  are  significant  of  the  ties  that  existed  between 
the  master  and  the  slave;  and  this  intimacy  between  master  and 
slave,  and  almost  companionship  of  children  and  servant,  were 
more  common  than  an}^  liarsh  ])eliavior  toward  them.  A  man 
who  aljused  a  slave  was  held  in  contempt,  and  was,  I  suppose, 
shunned  l)y  his  neighl)()rs.  1  had  no  experience  with  such  men. 
Once  the  overseer  on  our  place  was  going  to  punish  a  man  for 
persisting  in  annoying  another.  The  alleged  ofiender  sent  for 
me,  and  1  investigated  the  case.  He  was  charged  with  being  too 
gallant  with  another  maiTs  wife,  an  accusation  very  prevalent  in 
high  society  now,  when  my  lady  can  get  a  divorce  in  the  morn- 
ing and  marry  her  admirer  in  the  evening,  or  the  liusl)and  dt>  so, 
as  the  case  may  be.  No  punishment  Avas  given  the  negro  in  this 
matter,  for  the  Avant  of  evidence;  and  I  here  state  that  no  whip- 
ping of  a  negro  ever  occurred  on  the  plantation. 


388  Tn-o  ]\\ii.'s. 

The  (liti'ereiu'o  l)ct\vocu  llu'  wanx'  (';inu'f  and  the  slave  is,  the 
/'i(//if  f'f  e/i(Ut(jc  rv-^ldvnci'.  Tlie  former,  with  his  family  of  wife 
and  children,  is  too  often,  for  want  of  means,  unable  to  avail 
himself  of  his  riffht,  and  is  therefore  practically  on  a  level  in 
this  respect  with  the  bondsman,  .and  he  becomes  reduced  to  tlie 
slavery  of  wages,  which  in  this  asfe — howling  for  wealth — be- 
comes a  pitiful  condition,  from  which  he  seeks  relief  in  strikes, 
so  often  in  vain.  He  cannot  succeed  against  the  money  power 
of  the  great  trusts  and  monopolies,  the  power  of  the  State  and 
military  interference  of  the  United  States  forces;  so  in  the  end 
he  is  only  steeped  deeper  in  poverty.  From  all  this  the  slave 
was  free  and  happy,  if  his  laughter,  song,  and  dance  indicate 
contentment. 

I  do  dislike  egotism,  and  yet  to  establish  the  fact  that  slaves 
did  possess  the  power  to  change  masters  and  homes — and  you 
will  admit  that  practical  experience  is  better  than  any  theory — 
I  will  tell  you  plainly  what  occurred  to  me  touching  this  matter. 

As  administrator  of  an  estate  where  the  land  and  servants  had 
to  be  sold,  the  heads  of  the  families  were  given  notice,  months  in 
advance,  that  they  could  visit  or  otherwise  see  the  owners  of  the 
neighboring  plantations  and  other  persons  with  whom  they 
would  like  to  live,  and  induce  them  to  buy  the  family  at  the  sale; 
and  when  the  sale  was  made  1  think  all  had  selected  homes.  In 
this  case,  at  the  sales  many  were  informed  that  they  would  be 
bid  in  by  the  heirs.     I  never  knew  a  family  to  be  separated. 

I  believe  it  was  in  the  autumn  of  lS5(j  1  wished  to  obtain  a 
good  cook,  and  went  to  New  Orleans.  Beard  &  ^lay,  cotton 
brokers,  informed  me  that  the  German  Vice  Consul  was  going 
home,  and  had  the  best  cook  in  the  city.  I  called  on  Mr.  Kock 
at  his  office,  and  he  gave  me  a  note  to  his  wife,  stating  the  ob- 
ject of  my  calling.  ^Madame  sent  for  the  cook,  and  she  came 
into  the  drawing  room  and  was  introduced  to  me,  and  my  l)usi- 
ness  made  known  to  her.  She  was  a  tine-looking  woman.  She 
asked  me  the  usual  questions — such  as  "Biddy"'  in  the  intelli- 
gence office  asks  persons  in  quest  of  a  cook — al)out  where  I  lived, 
numl)er  in  the  family,  if  there  was  a  cliurch  near  by,  nearest 
town,  etc.  Obtaining  the  desired  information,  she  told  her  mis- 
tress she  di<l  not  wish  to  leave  the  city,  and  she  was  directed  to 
retire.  Mi-s.  Kock  said  she  wished  the  servant  to  lie  satistied 
with  her  new  home,  etc. 


Ai'i-hWDix.  389 

Next  Beard  t"v:  May  sent  me  to  a  French  family,  Madame 
eame  in,  and  .sent  for  the  cook  she  wished  to  sell.  This  one 
varied  the  questions,  she  asked  even  as  to  hot  dinners  on  Sun- 
days, and  then  she  said  she  would  not  like  to  live  on  a  planta- 
tion; and  so  the  visit  was  fruitless.  Then  Beard  &  May  told 
me  to  question  the  servants  they  held  for  sale,  and  there  I  found 
a  woman  alx)nt  thirty  years  old,  of  tine  personal  appearance,  who 
was  willino-  to  accept  a  position  in  the  country,  and  I  bought  her. 

A  few  days  after,  Beard  &  May  called  on  me  and  said  my  cook, 
Maria,  wanted  to  see  me;  so  I  went  to  her,  and  she  then  told  me 
she  wished  I  would  buy  her  husband  Jim.  I  expressed  my  dis- 
pleasure that  she  had  not  told  me  she  was  married  before  I 
bought  her.  However,  I  bought  Jim  to  satisfy  her,  and  took 
them  both  home  with  me.  ]Maria  was  installed  in  the  kitchen, 
and  proved  to  be  a  good  cook.  Jim  had  charge  of  the  horses,  etc. 
At  the  beginning  of  summer  we  Avent  North.  Jim  was  put  to 
work  in  the  field.  He  soon  ran  away,  stayed  in  the  woods  by 
day,  came  home  often  at  night,  and  told  the  overseer  that  he 
would  come  home  when  1  did.  When  we  returned  in  the  autumn, 
Jim  came  to  see  me  and  explained  that  he  had  never  worked  in 
the  field;  so  he  worked  again  at  the  stables  and  ginhouses.  I 
now  learned  that  ]\Iaria  and  Jim  had  never  been  married.  When 
spring  came,  I  told  Jim  I  would  take  him  back  to  Ncav  Orleans, 
and  he  was  willing  to  go.  1  left  him  with  Beard  &  May  to  be 
sold.  When  we  returned  in  the  fall  Jim  had  not  been  sold.  In 
the  winter  I  visited  New  Orleans.  The  steamer  arrived  during 
the  night.  In  the  morning  as  I  was  going  on  shore  I  saw  a 
number  of  fine  hacks  on  the  levee  awaiting  passengers;  among 
them  the  driver  of  a  fine  carriage  cried  out:  "O  Master  Sam, 
here  is  your  carriage;  ride  with  me.  Don't  you  know  Jim? 
Mighty  glad  to  see  you,  Master  Sam."  He  drove  me  to  the  St. 
Charles  Hotel.  Soon  Jim  came  to  see  me,  and  I  told  him  if  he 
did  not  find  a  home  for  himself  before  I  left  the  city  I  would 
have  him  sold  to  some  one  out  in  the  country  without  consulting 
him.  The  result  was,  Jim  got  the  owner  of  the  livery  stable  to 
buy  him,  and  that  was  the  last  I  saw  of  Jim.  No  one  would 
purchase  Jim  because  he  told  every  one  who  wanted  him,  "If 
you  buy  me,  I  will  run  away;"  and  so  he  hired  himself  out  for 
about  nine  months,  at  twenty  dollars  per  mouth,  as  a  hack  driver, 
which  supported  himself  free  of  expense  to  me. 


% 


fi 


V 


./ 


Api-ksdix.  391 

And  noAV  nl)<)iit  ^Nluria:  In  the  sprin<2^  she  (rot  in  the  habit  of 
havino:  tits,  and  woukl  t'oani  at  the  mouth,  and  the  old  cook  would 
have  to  come  over.     This  continued  over  two  weeks. 

One  morninir  I  saw  my  neiorhl)or  Courtney  ridinir  up  to  my 
gate  rather  rai)idly.  He  was  excited  and  said:  ''Capt.  French, 
I  want  you  to  buy  ui}^  man  Parker  or  sell  me  Maria.''  Parker 
had  the  main  charge  of  some  one  hundred  and  thirtj^  servants  on 
Courtney's  place.  As  1  had  no  use  for  Parker,  I  would  not  en- 
tertain buying  him,  and  replied  that  1  would  sell  him  Maria. 
When  he  became  more  composed,  he  told  me  that  "Parker  had 
become  stupid,  thoughtless,  and  could  not  remember  what  was 
told  him,  and  when  I  called  him  to  account  he  informed  me  that 
he  was  so  much  in  love  with  Maria  that  his  mind  was  all  'up- 
sot,'  but  if  I  would  only  buy  Maria  he  would  be  so  happy,  and 
be  the  best  hand  on  the  place  if  she  were  his  wife."  And  so 
]\Iaria  became  Parker's  wife,  and  never  feigned  having  tits  any 
more.  Marriage  cured  them.  Her  tits  were  all  "put  on"  to 
get  a  new  home  at  Courtney's. 

I  was  now  quite  tired  and  wearied  with  cooks,  but  neverthe- 
less, being  in  New^  Orleans,  I  made  another  venture.  Beard  &. 
May  said  they  had  a  good  cook.  She  was  a  woman  of  a])out 
twenty,  with  a  jolly  round  face,  and  said  she  was  a  line  cook, 
and  I  bought  her.  Her  name  was  something  like  Amanda,  as  I 
remember  it.  She  was  a  willing,  good-natured  creature,  but  so 
careless  that  half  the  dishes  were  spoiled;  so  during  the  sum- 
mer I  took  her  to  New  Orleans  and  left  her  with  Beard  &  May 
(early  in  the  morning),  then  drove  to  the  hotel.  I  had  finished 
my  breakfast  and  was  smoking  in  the  rotunda,  when  I  saw 
Amanda  approaching,  accomjianied  l^y  a  tall,  elderl}^  gentleman, 
to  whom  I  was  introduced,  naming  him  "my  new  master.''  He 
was  from  one  of  the  parishes  of  the  State.  He  asked  me  some 
cpiestions  about  his  new  servant,  and  said  he  thought  her  a  good 
cook,  and  honest,  from  what  she  told  him.  He  apologized  for 
the  early  call,  as  he  had  to  leave  on  the  morning  steamboat. 
Bidding  Amanda  good-by,  I  concluded  to  abide  with  our  old 
cook  again. 

1  have  briefly  sketched  these,  some  of  my  experiences  with 
slaves,  to  establish  the  fact  that  bondsmen  on  the  Mississippi  did 
have  the  privilege  of  selecting  very  often  the  persons  with  whom 
they  wished  to  live,  as  well  as  the  place,  which  is  by  poverty  de- 


392  T)ro  Wahs. 

nit'd  the  poor  white  men  when  in  the  iron  irrip  of  the  rieh  eor- 
porations.  where  they  are  held  hy  the  relentless  ''slavery  of 
wasfes. "" 

A  man  actin^r  for  himself  and  in  the  interest  of  his  family 
must  have  feelinofs  of  humanity  for  his  servants.  Their  AAel- 
fare  and  hapi)iness  are  in(hssolnbly  linked  with  his,  aside  from 
his  aeeountahility  for  his  aets  to  his  God.  Corporations  have 
no  souls,  and  no  (lod  to  worship  exeept  ]ManHnon.  They  have 
uo  ear  for  the  misfortunes  or  ills  of  an  employee,  no  physician 
for  sickness,  no  jiriest  for  the  dyinir.  nor  cothn  for  the  dead. 
All  these  the  slave  has. 

Truly  the  relentless  thirst  for  o-old  over  the  road  to  wealth 
crushes  to  death  like  a  worm  the  poor  lal)orer  beneath  its  tread. 
There  is  no  provision  in  the  chartei-  of  a  trust  company  for  care 
of  life  or  soul  of  a  lal)orer,  and  his  condition  is  dis2fuised  in  the 
(unknown  to  him)  <rlorious  privileo-es  of  independence,  liberty, 
and  freedom.  What  a  mockery  are  all  these  human  rights  to  a 
family  perishin<r  in  a  hut  by  a  coal  mine  for  want  of  clothino" 
and  food,  with  no  ministerinsf  hand!  And  yet  all  the  wealth  in 
the  world  was  obtained  from  the  earth  l>v  the  miner  and  farmer. 

God  in  the  Ijc^inning  proclaimed  the  relations  and  the  obli- 
irations  between  master  and  1)()nd  servant  in  Holy  A\'rit,  and  he 
will  judofe  them  by  their  deeds;  but  (rod  hath  not.  nor  hath 
man  detined  the  humanities  inseparable  Ix'tween  a  trust  eom- 
l)any  and  its  em})lovee,  except  by  injunetions  and  courts  and 
Ijayonet  rule. 

Bad  as  it  is,  some  may  be  inelined  to  believe  that  Betty,  under 
her  indenture,  had  more  })rivile,2"e  and  enjoyment  than  most  of 
the  white  laborers  in  the  em])l()yment  of  many  monopolies. 

In  connection  with  this  indenture  is  presented  the  ])icture  of 
the  Kev.  Henry  Ward  Ik'ccher  selling"  slaves  on  his  theatrical 
l)ulpit  sta«-e  in  Plymouth  Church.  Brooklyn,  to  raise  mone}^  and 
fire  the  Northern  hearts  airainst  the  South. 

The  audience  is  larire.  and  their  eountenances  express  deliofht 
at  this  fine  scene  of  buitoonei-y,  which  was  then  considered  o/ie  of 
tlie  ^'' eight  great  pcrxonul  rrmfs  of  the  nineteenth  centvry^^  and 
hence  worthy  of  jjicservation.  When  j)assion  shall  have  sul)- 
sided,  and  calm  jud;;rnient  pi'esides,  it  will  perhai)s  be  re<rarded 
as  an  act  of  charlatanry  unworthy  of  so  irreat  a  man.  These 
ofreat  jx'rsonal  cNcnts  are  said  to  be: 


Al'I'KXhIX. 


893 


When  Jenny  Lind  sunir  in  Castle  Garden. 

When  Henry  Ward  Beecher  sohl  shives  in  Plymouth  pulpit. 

When  the  Prince  of  ^^'ale.s  was  in  America. 

When  Henry  Clay  bade  farewell  to  the  Senate. 

When  Grant  went  around  the  world. 

When  Lincoln  was  first  inaugurated. 

When  Kossuth  rode  up  Broadway. 

When  ]\Iackay  struck  the  o:reat  bonanza. 

I  regarded  Mr.  Beecher  an  orator,  and  have  listened  to  his 
discourses  on  theology  to  his  congregation  with  admiration ;  but 
his  attacks  on  slavery  were  made  perha])s  with  as  little  knowledge 


of  .the  condition  of  the  bondsmen  as  that  distinguished  kinswom- 
an of  his,  Mrs.  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  has  shown  in  her  ideal 
novel,  "Uncle  Tom's  Cal)in."  They  produced  a  diseased  state 
of  public  sentiment,  and  Demos,  turned  loose,  strained  the  ties 
of  love  and  kindred  relations  that  bound  the  States  by  the  com- 
pact, and  precipitated  secession  and  war  on  the  South. 

If  slavery  be  considered  a  wrong,  and  no  dou1)t  it  was,  then, 
in  justice  to  all  concerned  in  its  establishment  in  the  United 
States  and  to  the  condition  of  the  slaves  in  1861  and  the  means 
resorted  to  for  their  liberation,  it  becomes  a  matter  of  impartial 
consideration,  and  when  that  day  comes,  the  South  will  stand 
before  the  W'Orld  vindicated,  and  the  verdict  will  l>c  Itotli  parties 
guilty,  as  will  be  shown  hereafter. 

Slavery  was  only  made  possihh-  ))y  l)ringing  in  ships  negroes 
from  Africa;  and  that  was  mainly  dcine  by  the  people  of  Old 
England,  New  England,  and  New  York  City.     They  were  large 


394  7'n-o  W.Ah's. 

shi})  owners.  They  sont  their  vessels  for  slaves,  and  obtained 
them  by  theft,  by  eapturino:  them  in  the  midnight  glare  of  burn- 
ing villages,  or  by  purchase.  T/h(/  oionrd  them  all.  They  were 
indeed  inhuman  slave  dealers.  They  sold  some  of  them  to  all 
the  thirteen  colonies,  and  to  the  several  States  formed  of  them 
under  the  constitution,  and  they  continued  this  slave  trade  legal- 
ly until  1808.  and  illegally  until  1862.  (See  "American  Slave 
Trade,"  by  J.  K.  Spears. ) 

In  Old  England  the  question  of  slavery  was  discussed  calmly, 
with  justice  and  common  sense,  and  they  arrived  at  an  equita- 
ble decision —viz.,  that  the  government  should  compensate  the 
owners  for  their  property  rights  in  persons  held  to  labor  or  (in 
language  undisguised)  in  slaves,  and,  as  I  have  already  stated, 
!5lU0,(H»0,00U  was  appropriated  to  purchase  them  and  set  them 
free,  an  act  of  justice  to  the  owners. 

In  this  land  of  freedom  the  pious  people  of  the  North  (1  speak 
plainly)  sold  their  slaves  to  the  planters  in  the  South,  and,  with 
the  slave  money  in  their  pockets,  rejoiced  that  they  were  not 
like  the  people  South,  and  as  Pilate  did  (tiguratively)  they  took 
water  and  washed  their  hands  Ijefore  the  people,  saying:  "We 
are  innocent  of  the  sin  of  slavery  now!" 

Next,  from  causes  already  stated,  like  the  crusaders  to  the 
Holy  Land,  the  fanatical  crowd  came  down  South,  and  took  the 
slaves  that  they  once  owned  and  sold  from  the  purchasers,  and 
forced  the  States  to  set  them  free  Avithout  compensation.  By 
this  act  they  took  over  ^8,000,()()U,(J(M.)  worth  of  private  property 
from  the  owners — the  greatest  robbery  ever  committed  on  earth. 

In  the  conmion  courts  of  the  country  it  has  been  adjudged,  I 
believe,  that  the  thief  is  a  greater  criminal  than  the  receiver  of 
the  stolen  property;  but  when  the  tliieves  steal  the  same  prop- 
erty a  second  time,  what  should  the  sentence  of  the  court  l)e? 
Of  that  crime  the  North  stands  convicted. 

There  is  a  higher  power  than  any  estal>lished  by  man. 

"(ii^it  moves  ill  a  mysterious  way 
His  wijikIlts  I<i  perform." 

In  days  of  old  he  arraigned  nations  before  his  august  court,  and 
they  lived  or  perished  at  his  will.  The  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  the  South,  at  his  conunand  and  in  his  own  way,  w'ill  arise 
from  theii'  dowii-ti'oiMcn  cdiiditiou.  to  the  surprise  of  their  op- 


A  i'i'EM)i\.  395 

pressors.  Ilor  Holds  will  blossom  as  the  rose,  the  busy  hum  of 
industry  will  be  heard  in  the  hind,  and  the  commercial  sails  of 
the  world  will  ride  on  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the 
Caribbean  Sea,  plying  to  South  America  and  the  Orient  through 
the  canal  that  will  connect  the  two  great  oceans.  What  position 
then  will  the  New  England  States  hold  in  the  general  prosperity 
of  the  States^  Then  it  will  be  seen,  ''Vengeance  is  mine;  I  will 
repay,  saith  the  Lord."  And  even  now  along  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board great  steamers  go  North  mainly  laden  w^ith  articles  made 
from  wood,  lum))er,  pig  iron,  cotton  goods,  fruit,  and  the  great 
metropolitan  hotels  and  the  people  generally  depend  on  the  fields 
and  gardens  of  the  South  for  their  vegetables  half  the  year;  and 
so  it  goes  on  in  arithmetical  progression  of  increase. 

Leaving  out  the  negroes,  the  South  has  a  homogeneous  popu- 
lation; the  solidarity  of  the  nation  will  rest  on  her.  In  1861 
there  was  less  than  om^  foreigner  to  the  hundred  in  the  popula- 
tion of  North  Carolina,  while  in  the  West  it  ranged  from  thirty 
to  sixty  per  cent.  (See  census  reports.)  The  cities  of  Chicago 
and  New  York  contain  a  population  w^hich  will  be  found  to  be  a 
conglomeration  of  all  the  peoples  on  the  face  of  the  earth — with 
their  political  ideas,  their  morality,  their  vices,  their  language, 
and  their  religion — and  on  no  question  will  they  agree  unless 
purchased  for  a  price,  as  a  business  transaction,  for  mone}^,  and 
''the  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil,"  and  the  history  of 
Ivome  will  be  repeated. 

Historians  estimate  the  number  of  slaves  carried  from  Africa 
to  the  Americas  and  the  West  Indies  Islands  to  have  been  from 
eight  to  twelve  millions,  out  of  which  number  about  live  hun- 
dred thousand  died  or  were  killed  at  sea,  and  their  bodies  were 
thrown  overboard.  And  now  let  the  sin  of  slavery  rest  on  the 
North  or  the  South,  as  it  will  tinally  be  declared  by  the  consen- 
sus of  public  opinion,  when  investigation  discloses  and  proclaims 
the  horrible  cruelty  of  the  Northern  slave  owners  who  brought 
them  here,  and  contrast  it  with  the  amelioration  of  their  condition 
and  their  advancement  in  intelligence  and  morality  acquired  by 
the  teaching  of  the  best  men  and  women  in  the  South.  This 
opinion  will  l)e  recorded. 

The  negro,  as  sold  l)y  his  first  owner,  was  a  stupid  animal 
speaking  a  jabbering  lingo;  he  was  now  taught  and  trained  in 
civilization  until  he  was  adjudged  by  the  North,  when  set  free.. 


396  Tuo  Wars. 

capal)le  to  perform  all  tlie  duties  pertaining  to  tlie  hiofh  otiicial 
positions  to  whit-li  the  Tnitcd  States  ofovernnient  did  ap]M)int  him 
or  his  brother  neafroes  elected  him.  Yes,  under  the  teaching's  and 
traiuinsf  of  their  owners  on  the  plantations  and  in  the  cities,  while 
slaves,  they  were  converted  from  fetichism  to  Christianity,  and 
from  cannil)alism  to  ffentility  of  livino-.  and  tlieir  beastly  nature 
curl)ed  by  moral  surroundings  and  force  of  example;  and  now, 
to  humiliate  the  Southern  people.  Avho  were  disfranchised,  politi- 
cal ]ilans  were  arranged  to  ha\e  negro  Senators  elected  instead  of 
whites,  and  from  Mississippi  two  negroes  were  occupying  at  dif- 
ferent periods  seats  in  the  United  States  Senate  chamber.  Their 
names  were  Revels  and  Bruce.  The  latter  I  haA;e  seen  riding 
through  my  i)lantation.  From  Senator  he  became  Register  of 
the  Treasuiy  of  tiie  United  States,  a  Y)osition  long  held  by  my 
friend.  Gen.  W.  S.  Rosecrans,  United  States  army. 

Out  of  the  three  million  soldiers  that  were  in  the  United  States 
army,  there  were  not  as  many  discharged  soldiers  holding  office 
in  the  South  in  ISGO  as  there  were  ex-slaves  out  of  the  four  hun- 
dred thousand  negro  men  eligible  to  office.  This  indicates  either 
the  soldiers"  unfitness  for  office,  or  that  the  selection  of  ues^roes 
Avas  made  to  humiliate  the  people  of  the  South. 

It  may  be  asked:  Whence  came  Christianity  among  the  slaves? 
Did  it  come  by  nature?  No,  nature  is  uniform  in  her  laws,  and 
developed  no  Christianity  among  the  negroes  in  Africa,  or  else- 
where when  left  to  themselves;  hence  it  came  by  teaching,  for 
on  Sundays  the  master  and  mistress,  nurse  and  children,  in  the 
carriage  were  always  escorted  to  church  by  the  young  men  on 
horseback,  dressed  in  their  clean  and  best  attire,  where  all  A\of- 
shii)ed  together  in  the  Lord's  house.  Also,  on  many  plantations, 
clergymen  were  maintained  witli  ample  compensation  l)y  twoor 
three  neighboring  planters  to  preach  the  g()S})el  to  their  people. 

Whence  came  (pialifications  for  business,  unless  taught  by  their 
<)\\  ners :!  Reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  do  not  come  by  birth, 
and  the  ])easant  and  the  prince  alike  ha\e  to  study  to  compre- 
hend even  "'the  rule  of  three." 

It  is  not  pleasant  to  refer  to  the  want  of  information  among  the 
conmion  people  in  the  North  and  A\'csl  in  regard  to  the  real  rela- 
tion of  the  l)ondsmen  to  their  owners,  or  to  the  ignorance  of  the 
masses  of  the  nations  of  Europe  on  tins  question.  In  Europe  they 
had  a  foretaste  of  freedom  in  1S4S;  l>ut  slavery  in  the   I'nited 


Api'EShix.  397 

States  was  a  sealed  letter  to  them  all.  For  llic  North  there  is 
this  excuse:  the  ahuost  nonintercourse  between  the  North  and 
the  South  precluded  personal  observation,  and  they  were  taught 
in  the  schools,  in  the  lecture  rooni,  from  the  rostrum  and  the 
pulpit,  by  the  press  in  every  village,  town,  and  city  all  over  the 
land,  to  believe  the  fabulous  accounts  of  the  ills  of  slavery  to  be 
true,  and  that  the  slave  owners  were  cruel,  illiterate,  uncultured, 
and  had  "plantation  manners,"  untit  for  association  with  the 
immaculate  people  of  the  North.  The  populace  of  the  North 
learned  nothing  from  the  after  failure  of  the  advent  of  John 
Brown  in  Virginia,  where  slaves  fled  from  him  with  horror  and 
left  him  to  his  deserved  fate:  on  the  contrary,  he  was  by  the 
North  held  up  as  a  saint  who  gave  his. life  for  freedom's  cause. 

Far  and  wide  the  abolition  and  free-soil  party  preached  a  cru- 
sade against  the  people  of  the  South  to  liberate  the  slaves,  and 
]Mr.  Beecher's  picture  shows  to  what  low  means  they  stooped  to 
awaken  enthusiasm  for  their  cause.  It  spread  to  Europe,  and 
when  they  conuuenced  the  war  the  illiterate  masses  there  joined 
in  the  crusade  against  the  South,  as  they  did  to  rescue  the  holy 
sepulcher  from  the  hands  of  the  intidel,  on  which  occasion, 
Proctor  in  his  "History  of  the  Crusades"  says,  "the  Welsh- 
man forgot  his  hunting,  the  Scot  his  companionship  with  ver- 
min, the  Dane  his  carouse,  and  the  Norwegian  his  raw-  fish,"  in 
their  fanatical  desire  to  reach  Jerusalem;  and  so  again  the 
Welshman,  the  Scot,  the  Norwegian,  the  Dane,  the  German, 
and  the  rest  of  Europe  came  over  here  to  enlist  as  su1)stitutes  in 
the  Federal  army  in  its  crusade  against  the  institution  of  slavery 
which  was  founded  by  their  ancestors. 

Herod  the  Great,  an  Idumean,  to  secure  the  throne  of  Jeru- 
salem to  the  Idumean  line  of  Jews,  murdered  his  wife,  the  beau- 
tiful ^lariamue,  and  his  two  sons  by  her.  They  were  handsome, 
had  been  educated  in  Rome,  were  very  accomplished,  and  l)eloved 
by  the  Jewish  people;  l)ut  as  they  were,  through  their  mother, 
of  the  Asmonean  line  of  Jews,  Herod  condenmed  them  to  death 
to  secure  the  succession  as  he  desired.  W^hen  the  war  betAveen 
the  States  ended,  the  white  people  of  the  Confederacy  were  in 
the  way  of  the  line  of  succession  of  the  radical  party  to  maintain 
office;  so  they  were  disfranchised,  and  a  new  race  was  made  cit- 
izens to  take  their  place:  they  were  the  late  negro  slaves,  the 
pets  and  "wards  of  the  nation!" 


398  Tiro  Wars. 

Now.  wlu'ii  il  was  told  to  Auirustus  C'jv'sar  that  Ilcrod  had  mur- 
dered his  two  sons  In-  Marianme.  he  said  that  "it  was  better  to 
be  one  of  Herod's  y-'/f/v  than  one  of  his  sons:"  and  so  when  the 
white  people  of  the  South  were  politically  murdered,  many  of 
their  friends  said:  "It  were  better  to  be  a  '  //•(//■</  of  thr  nation'' 
than  a  son  of  the  Confederacy.''  These  cruel  proceedings  have 
been  condemned  by  all  the  civilized  nations  of  Europe,  and  will 
be  condemned  by  the  im])ai'tial  historians  of  the  North  when 
passions  shall  have  subsided. 

The  ensla\  iiiir  of  the  negro  race  in  the  colonies — and  which 
was  largely  contined  to  those  called  Southern,  and  almost  entire- 
ly to  them  after  the  ending  of  the  slave  trade  —placed  the  white 
people  of  the  colonies  on  a  higher  and  broader  plane  and  re- 
leased them  from  the  daily  strugo:le  after  the  "almighty  dollar." 

The  busy  minds  of  the  Northern  people  were  constantly  more 
and  more  given  to  trade  and  trathc.  while  those  of  the  South 
turned  to  the  enjoyment  of  a  home  life;  freed  from  restraint 
and  care,  they  practiced  the  amenities  of  social  life,  Avith  honor, 
truth,  and  charity  to  all.  Strange  as  it  may  ai)pear,  a  civiliza- 
tion— Ijased  on  slave  labor,  that  was  tolerant  in  religion,  that 
encouraged  freedom  of  thought,  led  their  minds  to  the  contem- 
])lation  of  the  rights  given  man  by  his  Creator  when  he  breathed 
the  breath  of  life  into  his  body  as  he  came  into  this  world — re- 
sulted in  promi)ting  these  men  to  embody  their  views  on  this 
question  of  divine  right  in  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration,  made 
in  ^Mecklenburg- County,  N.  C,  May  20,  1775,  and  which  Avas 
sul)stantially  expressed  again,  July  4,  177(i.  in  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  read  in  Philadelphia. 

And  so  it  was  from  the  thoughtful  minds  of  these  quiet  slave 
owners  came  these  two  proclamations:  that  man  was  indued,  or 
boin.  with  certain  "inalienable  rights"  derived  from  his  Maker 
— namely,  "life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness."  These 
were  some  of  the  developments  of  a  cicUizatlon  based  on  slavery. 

To  secure  these  rights  unto  themselves,  after  the  Confedera- 
tion, they  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  Tnited  States,  but  un- 
fortunately it  was  established  on  a  conq)romise  that  was  left  for 
futurity  to  interpret;  and  disagreement  on  this  matter  led  to  se- 
cession as  a  solution  and  last  resort. 

Passing  by  the  particular  events  of  the  war  l>ct\\  ecu  the  States, 
it  may  not  be  uiipidtitabic  to  in(|uire  what  was  the  ditference  in 


/ 


JOSEPH   E.    15I{()\\"N. 


Appendix.  401 

the  (levelopnitMits  of  the  two  civilizations  that  followed  the  for- 
mation and  establishment  of  the  Constitution;  the  North  by  it- 
self, free,  and  the  South  with  her  peculiar  institutions.  By 
their  fruits  ye  must  judge  them. 

There  were  seventeen  Presidents  anterior  to  President  Grant, 
out  of  which  number  eleven  were  Southern  Ijorn,  and  six  the 
product  of  free  soil,  if  we  include  John  Adams.  In  jurispru- 
dence, the  South  gave  us  a  Marshall;  in  the  forum  they  need 
no  mention,  as  statesmen  they  have  but  few  peers;  among  dip- 
lomats, John  Laurens,  of  South  Carolina,  a  member  of  Wash- 
ington's staff,  special  Minister  to  France,  stands  preeminent;  in 
the  darkest  hour  of  our  struggle,  at  the  court  of  Louis  XIV.,  he 
saved  the  colonies  and  turned  the  tide  of  war  in  our  favor. 

In  the  field  we  have  Washington,  Lee,  Stonewall  Jackson,  and 
Forrest.  For  an  honest  opinion  of  Gen.  Lee  and  his  soldiers, 
see  Theodore  Roosevelt's  life  of  T.  H.  Benton:  there  he  stands 
peerless,.  Those  who  desire  to  learn  more  about  Col.  John 
Laurens  may  read  the  December  number  of  McCltire's  Maga- 
zine (1899). 

Such  are  some  of  the  fruits  of  a  civilization  that  has  passed 
away. 

When  I  survey  the  past,  and  from  it  make  prophecy  of  the 
future,  I  am  as  candid  in  saying  I  rejoice  that  slavery  is  no  more 
as  I  am  in  condemning  the  brutal  manner  in  which  it  was  abol- 
ished; and  nevertheless  I  am  as  sincere  in  my  love  of  my  whole 
country  as  I  am  imbued  with  dislike  to  that  class  of  people  who 
out  of  hatred  precipitated  that  w^ar  on  the  Southern  people  out 
of  envy  because  they  imagined  that  the  planters  were  a  more 
favored  people  than  they  themselves  were. 

A  Roman  consul  was  never  accorded  a  triumph  for  a  victory 
in  civil  war,  nor  were  the  spoils  of  war  his.  But  after  this  civil 
war,  as  it  is  termed,  ended,  the  emblems  of  victory  have  waved 
in  triumph  in  our  faces,  and  are  carefully  preserved  instead  of 
being  hidden  away,  and  the  universal  looting  has  enriched  the 
soldiers'  homes  with  the  spoils  of  war.  Senator  Charles  Sum- 
ner wanted  the  captured  flags  returned. 

War  is  not  barbarous,  nor  is  it  ''hell;"  it  is  just  what  parties 

choose  to.  make  it.     When  confined  to  the  enlisted  troops  it  is 

seldom  cruel.     Hell  is  an  expression  adopted  to  silence  argument 

on  the  cruel  manner  in  which  the  United  States  government 

26 


402  Two  Wars. 

prosecuted  the  \\:ir:    when  this  subject  is  mentioned  we   are 
silenced  by  the  declanition.  O  well,  "war  is  hell  any  way." 
To  cover  up  his  own  iniquities,  (ien.  Sherman  said:  "  War  is 

Juiir 

Durinir  the  war  with  ]Mexico  1  was  with  (icn.  Taylor  from 
Corpus  Christ!  to  Huena  Vista,  and  durin*;  that  period  heard  of 
but  one  case  of  robbery,  and  that  was  at  Papagallos,  on  the  march 
to  ]\Ionterey.  There  a  soldier  stole  a  chicken.  Seeinof  a  crowd 
of  oHicers  in  the  street,  I  rode  up  to  ascertain  the  cause. 

Gen.  Taylor  had  dismounted.  There  was  the  offender;  he 
was  severely  reprimanded  and  placed  under  ofuard.  Turning:  to 
the  accuser — an  old  woman — the  (icncral  ijave  her  some  silver 
coin  in  payment  for  her  chicken.     That  war  was  not  hell. 

AVhcn  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  was  ill  in  Palestine  the  Islam 
conunandcr.  Saladin,  "sent  him  the  choicest  fruits  and  refresh- 
ment of  snow  during  the  burning  heat  of  sunmier;  and  at  the 
siege  of  Jatia.  Saphadan,  the  ^Mohammedan  chief,  observing 
Richard  dismounted,  sent  him  two  Arabian  horses,  on  one  of 
which  he  continued  the  contiict  until  nightfall.  He  further  so- 
licited and  ()l)tained  from  Richard  the  honor  of  knighthood  for 
his  son."     This  was  not  much  like  hell. 

Again,  Richard  promulgated,  like  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  reg- 
ulations for  the  government  of  his  troops.  "A  thief  was  to  have 
his  head  shaved,  to  be  tarred  and  feathered."  Had  Sherman 
issued  and  enforced  an  order  like  this,  the  sight  of  his  troops 
would  have  frisrhtened  all  the  inhabitants  out  of  Savannah. 


Our  Unknown  Dead. 

Extract  fuom  an  Address  of  Gen.  S.  G.  French  Made  to  tuk  U.  C. 
V.  Camp,  No.  54,  Orlando,  Fla..  Jcne  3,  1893. 

Coiaradesi:  The  solemn  ceremony  of  Decoration  Day  has  been 
performed.  The  few  graves,  alike  of  the  Confederate  and  the 
Union  soldicis  that  rest  in  oui'  cemetery,  have  been  decorated 
with  floral  oH'criiigs,  and  the  cause  that  so  few  of  tiie  Confed- 
erate dead  sleep  where  lo\  ing  kindred  can  care  for  them  inclines 
me  to  say  a  few  words  in  regard  to  the  unknown  dead. 

From  Dalton  down  to  Atlanta,  and  aiound  that  city,  there 
was  one  continuous  coiillict  for  one  liimdred  days,  and  not  a  day 


Appendix.  403 

passed  without  some  troops  being  engaged,  and  so  the  dead  were 
left  throughout  a  hundred  miles  on  either  side,  resting  where 
they  fell. 

If  we  turn  to  the  east  again,  we  find  that  Gen.  Grant  crossed 
the  Rapidan  May  4,  1864,  and,  taking  the  direct  line  to  Rich- 
mond, immediately  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  followed,  and 
he  announced  that  he  was  going  ''to  fight  it  out  on  that  line  if 
it  took  all  summer."  A  few  days  after  came  the  battle  of  Spott- 
sylvania,  and  June  1  that  of  Cold  Harbor,  where  the  Federal 
troops  refused  to  make  a  second  attack. 

In  these  three  great  and  sanguinary  battles  the  commander  of 
the  Union  forces  did  not  meet  with  success,  and  so  on  the  first 
day  of  summer  he  left  that  line  and  swung  around,  as  McClellan 
did,  to  the  James  river.  After  Cold  Harbor  it  seems  as  if  there 
was  no  desire  for  another  general  engagement,  and  the  hammer- 
ing away  mode  of  war  commenced  on  Lee,  On  July  18,  1864, 
Pre.sident  Lincoln  called  for  five  hundred  thousand  more  men, 
and  so  the  detrition  process  Aveut  on  for  nine  months,  mainly  on 
and  near  the  picket  line,  being  in  all  nearly  eleven  months  and 
a  half  that  Lee  confronted  Grant's  hosts  of  men.  and  over  all  this 
extent  of  country  lay  the  blue  and  the  gray  side  by  side  in  death. 
Devastation,  as  in  the  Palatinate,  had  done  its  work. 

Now  when  the  war  ended,  the  Federal  government,  with 
commendable  zeal,  very  humanely  collected  most  of  its  dead 
and  had  their  remains  removed  to  its  beautiful  cemeteries,  and 
there  keeps  green  the  sod  and  fresh  the  flowers  on  their  graves. 

There  was  no  Confederate  government  to  collect  and  care  for 
the  remains  of  the  Confederate  dead.  Along  the  banks  of  the 
"Father  of  Waters"  for  more  than  a  thousand  miles  the  inhabitants 
tread  unawares  over  the  unknown  graves  of  those  who  battled 
for  the  South.  Along  the  shores  of  the  Potomac,  the  Rappa- 
hannock, and  the  James  wave  the  golden  harvests  on  soil  en- 
riched by  their  blood  and  moldering  dust.  There  the  grapes 
grow  more  luscious  and  the  wine  is  redder.  From  the  capes 
of  the  Chesapeake  adown  the  stormy  Atlantic,  and  trending 
around  the  Gulf,  rest  thousands  of  our  dead;  or  go  to  the  heights 
of  Allatoona,  to  Lookout's  lofty  peak,  or  Kennesaw  Mountain's 
top,  and  you  may  seek  in  vain  where  the  dead  rest.  Time,  with 
the  relentless  force  of  the  elements,  has  obliterated  all  traces  of 
their  graves  from  human  eye;  they  are  known  only  to  Him  who 


404  Tm'o  Wars. 

can  tell  where  ^Nloses  sleeps  in  "'a  \ale  in  the  land  of  Moal).'' 
So  the  foro^otten  are  not  forofot.  the  Hand  tliat  made  the  thun- 
der's home  comes  down  every  sprintr  and  paints  with  hri^rlit  col- 
ors the  little  ^vild  flowers  that  grow  over  their  resting  places, 
and  they  are  l^right  on  Decoration  Day.  The  rosy  morn  an- 
nounces first  to  them  that  the  night  is  gone,  and  when  the  day  is 
past  and  the  landscape  veiled  with  evening's  shade,  high  on  the 
mountain  top  the  last  ray  of  the  setting  sun  lovingly  lingers 
longest,  loath  to  leave  the  lonely  place  where  the  bright-eyed 
children  of  the  Confederacy  rest  in  death. 

And  wherefore  did  they  die:?  They  fell  in  defense  of  their  homes, 
their  families,  their  country,  and  those  civil  rights  arising  from 
that  liberty  (lod  gave  man  as  a  heritage  in  the  beginning.  They 
furnished  to  their  country  nuich  that  will  be  noble  in  history, 
wonderful  in  story,  tender  in  song,  and  a  large  share  of  that 
glory  which  will  claim  the  admiration  of  mankind.  We  can  to- 
day place  no  Avreaths  of  innnortelles  on  their  unknown  graves, 
yet  we  can  rest  assured  that  the  echoes  of  })osterity  will  render 
their  deeds  illustrious. 

And  now,  as  I  look  back  on  the  past  and  recall  to  mind  your 
trials  and  sufferings — which  will  be  forgotten — 1  am  sure  the 
world  will  not  forget  that  your  valor  merited  a  success  which 
is  better  now  than  to  have  achieved  it. 


Jh 


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